Review of Wuthering Heights (2011) by Mikhail B — 20 Jun 2012

Grim, depressing and vile atmosphere of Bronte's Withering Heights is expressed in the film by an innovative camera language where most episodes are swollen by the darkness or fog, to almost indistinguishable blur, which makes the film's visual means of expression questionable if not failing.

However, the unstoppable, pagan and brutal love between the young Heathcliff (Solomon Glave) and Catherine (Shannon Beer), is beautifully shown in the first part, and it's so much better than the second part, when another actress is cast for the role of the protagonist and overall intensity of the narration fades out.

As the story goes, the father of a rich family dies leaving his mansion to a proud Joseph young master, his sister and the adopted inarticulate savage, who shall stay in the centre of the narration. The sister and the savage fall in love, a strange, sado-masochistic sort of love, in fact, while the brother enters a all-out opposition with the guy, sends him to work with the slaves, and all but wants him killed.

The savage leaves the house and years later returns back, educated, rich, strong and handsome, to find his loved one married to another, the once rich mansion laying in ruins, and the vile young master degraded and constantly drunk.

As he tries to return his love, he only brings more vow to the family. Joseph dies, and so does his former torturer after being beaten. Finally, Heathcliff inherits the mansion and the agony of living without the woman he loves.