Review of Bright Star (2009) by Jennifer S — 04 Feb 2010

Bright Star is a beautiful film, no doubt. It's also, well, kind of a boring film and at times even an irritating film, truth be told.

Bright Star tells the story of the relationship between Romantic era poet, John Keats, and his muse/girlfriend Fanny Brawne. The two lovebirds' courtship is limited to love letters and chaste kisses in the park since a) Keats is poor and cannot marry and b) Keats is dying of tuberculosis. In the end, of course, Keats does die--at age 25, penniless, and thinking himself a failure. Fanny and Keats never marry and never consummate their relationship.

While this plot is the makings of a story of transcendent, ecstatic love, it really isn't. It's about first love and all the overwrought emotions and thrills of discovery that go along with it. The majority of the movie is from Fanny's perspective, and when she and John are separated for a summer, her depression and hysterical tears come off not as honorable, but as annoying and immature--but that's exactly what is RIGHT about this movie. Jane Campion doesn't try to direct a movie where love is always beautiful and truthful and noble and perfect. Instead, Bright Star reveals young love in 1818 to be quite similar to young love today: confusing and super-emo in a way that exasperated Fanny Brawne's mother just as it might exasperate a high school girl's mom today. The only difference is that Fanny Brawne used letters to communicate with her guy, rather than texts and Facebook.

All too often, directors portray stories like Romeo and Juliet as if they were about L-O-V-E rather than about youthful infatuation. Campion, in my opinion, avoids this, and directs a film that feels honest and fresh, rather than same-old, same-old.

Some critics have expressed annoyance that there is no super-hot early 19th century sex scene in Bright Star. Considering that casual sex between unmarried couples wasn't exactly the norm (though it undoubtedly did occur) in those days, I find those criticisms absurd. Even though today's audience might have trouble getting hot under the collar over scenes of hand-holding and forehead-kissing, I thought Fanny and John's passion was palpable. Fanny even tells John on the night he is to leave for Italy, "You know I'd do anything" (i.e. SEX) and John replies "I have a conscience". It's not that John is a true gentlemen (or a eunuch)..but rather, he's practical, and realizes he might not be around long enough to accept the consequences of sex (i.e. BABIES), if there are any consequences.

Ok, so in summation: Bright Star is beautifully film, wonderfully acted, slow-moving, and, at times, eye-rolling. But it is also passionate and honest. Definitely worth checking out, but maybe not worth repeat viewings.