"Emily" Movie Review

 

"Emily"

Movie Review

 

Emily is a British biographical drama film written and directed by Frances O'Connor. It is a fictionalized portrait of English writer Emily Bronte, focusing on her fictional romantic relationship with young curate William Weightman. Fionn Whitehead, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Alexandra Dowling, and Gemma Jones also appear. The plot of the film is that while Emily Bronte is ill and on the verge of death, her older sister Charlotte asks her what inspired her to write Wuthering Heights.

Charlotte, who is about to graduate from high school, returns home for a visit at some point in the past. Emily tries to talk to Charlotte about the fictional worlds she's been creating while she's been at school, but Charlotte tries to discourage her from such juvenile activities. At the same time, a new curate, William Weightman, arrives. While her sisters and several other young women appear to be smitten with the young man, Emily dismisses him. Weightman participates in a game invented by the Bronts in which they take turns donning a mask and impersonating a character, with the other members guessing who the character is. When Emily's turn comes, she claims to be possessed by the ghost of their late mother. Weightman is disturbed by the scene, as are Charlotte, Anne, and Branwell.

 

Emily joins Charlotte at her school to study to be a teacher, while her brother Branwell attends the Royal Academy of Arts. Emily and Branwell both return as failures, with Branwell declaring that he is now more interested in writing and Emily at a loss for what to do.

 

Emily's father hires Weightman to teach her French while arguing religious philosophy with her. Branwell encourages Emily to drink and play, with their favorite pastime being scaring a local family by staring out their window at night. They are eventually apprehended, and when Emily denies her involvement, Branwell is sentenced to work as a tutor for the family. Branwell is disgraced after being caught kissing the mistress of the house.

 

Emily and Weightman become increasingly close and embark on a romantic and sexual relationship. When Charlotte returns and begins to suspect a connection between the two, Weightman ends their relationship abruptly. Emily is devastated and vents her rage on Branwell, accusing him of being clichéd and trite in his attempts at fiction. Emily decides to leave with Charlotte for Brussels in order to move on with her life. She informs Weightman that she will no longer be writing. Weightman writes Emily a letter pleading with her to reconsider, which he gives to Branwell, who reads it but does not pass on the message.

 

Emily has a vision of Weightman in Brussels and then learns that he has died. The sisters return to care for Branwell, who is in poor health. His final act before dying is to hand over Emily Weightman's letter, in which he encourages her to keep writing. Emily writes Wuthering Heights after Branwell's death. Emily confesses to Charlotte on her deathbed that she was in love with Weightman and asks Charlotte to burn the love letters between the two after she dies. Charlotte does so and starts writing her own works.

Emily, directed by Frances O'Connor, is not a biopic. The title character may be Emily Bront, the author of the literary classic Wuthering Heights, but O'Connor, who also wrote the screenplay, clearly chose to add a fictional slant in bringing this figure to life. While some may be put off by the unconventional approach, those who are willing to go along for the ride will be enchanted by the story Emily tells. It resonates with the present day in many ways without becoming anachronistic, and it paints a fascinating portrait of a woman who existed long before today's imaginations took shape. Emily, led by a stunning Emma Mackey, is a striking depiction of a woman embracing her individuality while crafting an iconic piece of literature.

Emily is crafted by director O'Connor to be almost a dreamy ghost story. Emily has all the elements of a Gothic novel come to life, from Abel Korzeniowski's score, which is both lively and haunting, to gorgeous landscape shots of the Yorkshire moors. O'Connor uses widely speculated parts of Bront's life to tell her enthralling story, and she uses this freedom to great effect. The film may not tell an entirely accurate life story, but it does perfectly reflect how Emily Bronte and her famous work are often viewed in modern culture. Some aspects of Emily's story still ring true today, such as her outsider status in a society that values more conservative thinking. Emily's refusal to fit into pre-determined boxes will linger with any viewer who has felt they cannot fit into a specific lifestyle. Furthermore, O'Connor weaves in instances where Emily suffers from what we today call a panic attack, but which may have been frowned upon in the 1800s. This only serves to reinforce Emily's connection to the present.

 

O'Connor is helped by outstanding contributions from key craftspeople such as director of photography Nanu Segal and costume designer Michael O'Connor. Some key developments in the script occur far too quickly for the audience to fully appreciate their significance, such as a plot point involving Branwell that occurs far enough into the film to be considered a spoiler. Emily's resolution's haste can dilute its overall impact. Fortunately, the film has a significant advantage in Mackey. Mackey brings Emily to life so vividly that one wishes they could get to know her in person. Jackson-Cohen plays a brooding romantic interest as her illicit suitor. His chemistry with Mackey is palpable. Whitehead, who plays Emily's libertine brother, also deserves praise for his performance; flitting between carefree antics and underlying hurt, Whitehead gives Branwell compelling depth.

Emily is a period piece that wears its modern sensibilities on its sleeve, and it manages to do so admirably. Historical purists may object to O'Connor's liberties with Emily, but those looking for a Gothic-styled film that is both a romance and a coming-of-age story will be captivated by what this has to offer.

 

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