The general scenery and costumes is very fitting and gives a great atmosphere, I think, and Mia Wasikowska is a wonderful Jane Eyre for me, nicely illustrating my personal view of the character. Mr. Rochester, played by Michael Fassbender (of German-Irish descent and coincidently born in Heidelberg ;o) ) is well done, too; and also works well for the not-too-sympathetic-look on him I always thought the book first gives the reader and the author intends. And seeing Judi Dench as Mrs. Fairfax was an extra treat, of course ;o).
But the story itself seemed strangely incomplete. Of course, even with a movie of 120 minutes, once can not expect every detail to be shown and/or told, and the movie was delightfully faithful to the tale. On the other hand, though, parts were left out that were really missing, even for somebody that knew the story rather well like me; Jane Eyre is one of my favourite books and I have read it several times in two languages, and seen most filmings of it. I watched the film with a friend who hadn't read the book yet, and she really missed the omitted parts, saying that the story doesn't make total sense like this, and left her rather puzzling (and decided to read the book asap). Mainly I'm missing the reason why Jane and that not very sympathetic employer of hers suddenly become a couple, and love each other. I really felt that this wasn't shown in the movie. What I'm missing even more is the development of Jane from the unhappy, neglected and oppressed child to the strong, self-reliant and self-confidant woman she becomes, and how and where she got her self-worth and morals, and why they were important to her. For me, that is the most important part of the book (and the reason why I love it so much).
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Beautiful icon, by the way. I have forgotten most I ever learned about the preraffaelites, and can't remember by whom this painting was done. Rosetti?
The one by Zeffirelli features a really, really splendid Charlotte Gainsbourg as Jane Eyre and a good William Hurt as Rochester. Gainsbourg is just as I imagine Jane while reading the book, and after watching that movie, every time I re-open the novel I figure Jane with her face. Hurt is surely not as unattractive as Rochester is described in the novel, but is harsher than Fassbender, for example, and decidedly older than Gainsbourg, so that the age difference is preserved. Joan Plowright plays a wonderful Mrs Fairfax. Indeed, the first half of the movie is commendable. The second half unfortunately rushes over the part with St John and his sisters.
Thanks about the icon! Yes, it's one of the hundreds portraits of Jane Burden Morris by DG Rossetti.
I've watched some clips on youtube with Gainsbourg and Hurt yesterday, and agree, her face looks very fitting for me, too.
But now I read about Jane developing and, as you describe it, becoming far less miserable. I'm still having the old Oxford pocket, feel tempted to pick it up soon! Thanks :)
For me, though, until today, Theodor Fontane is one of the German classic authors I refuse to read; I agonized myself through "Frau Jenny Treibel" and gave up "Effi Briest" rather soon, since that one wasn't compulsory. Thank god my French teachers were wiser... or lazier. At the annoying age, it was lazy teacher, just giving us small brochures with Prosper Mérimée and Daudet, small enough not to get discouraged (since we started with French two years later than with English), and wise teacher had us read Asterix and Gaston Lagaffe - much more fun (and, of course, it was easy for me - both I nearly knew by heart, having the translated BDs already and having read them over and over again... *g* ). I've lately started Nana by Zola to brush up my French, but am reading it parallel in German and French for the moment, because I'm not sure if I'm missing things otherwise.
Just give Jane Eyre a go, when you're in the mood for it. Probably get you another copy, to get rid of the compulsory school reading feeling ;o). But try it, it's really a great story.
Out of interest: when did you start with which languages at school, and for how long did you have them?
Spanish is also being taught, not when I was at school though.
Nowadays they start with English at primary schools.
Reading your advice 'get you another copy', I downloaded Jane Eyre to my new Kindle, which I received yesterday (I love it VERY much already!). :)
I agree with you about the classics, though it's perhaps hard to find literature for pupils that will suit all. For instance we also read 'Hound of the Baskervilles', a Sherlock Holmes story. It was pretty scary and I could not deal with scary things at all at that time (being prone to nightmares). It meant that I also never wished to read anything of ACD/Holmes anymore. Till now, when I have a dear friend who is writing Holmes-ff. Quite a few of the other pupils would have loved Holmes though.
I fear that reading classics at school might be quite often more off-putting than stimulating reading in pupils. However sad that is. But not to read anything at school or only 'popular'stuff will also not be an option. So it's a difficult matter, I think. Hard to please all (as usual :) )
It's possible we read Effi Briest at school, but I do not really remember it. I know I liked Gunther Grass, but when I was older. And I liked the opera's and cabaret-like things of Bertold Brecht and Kurt Weill, but it's all so long ago.
Do you happen to be in the field of teaching? Or it is just out of interest how different countries deal with language education?