Bright Star
“Bright Star”, a film about a love affair between John Keats, a reserved English poet in his early twenties, and Fanny Brawne, an artistically manic extrovert. A story about how these two polar opposites fall in love over the course of a few summers. The subtlety in this film speaks a thousand words which were portrayed magnificently by Abbie Cornish and Ben Whishaw.
The cinematography in the movie was shot by Greig Fraser, it can be easily said that cinematography in the movie was the most pleasant part of the movie. Most of the scenes were prominently shot in London, cinematographer Greig Fraser makes great use of the natural world using the changing seasons to highlight the emotional progression of the film. When Keats and Fanny share their first kiss, it’s early summer and the time where the whole world is blooming with beautiful flowers, he shows how deeply they’re in love through the beautiful flowers during that season. Also when they walk among the reeds, the light is warm and rich and yellow which shows a perfect summer and makes us fall in love with them.
Although they knew they were soulmates, he was a poet with no money and knew that he could never support both of them and live a prosperous life.
Another very interesting aspect of the movie was the type and placement of the music. Since the story took place during the 19th century, it was only suitable to have some of Mozart’s pieces in the movie. The music in the beginning really captures the chemistry they shared. When Keats had tragically died due to an illness, Fanny’s breakdown had made more of an impact than what some orchestral music could have done. Hence, the placement of music in some scenes is quite crucial to the overall mood and storyline of the film.
Love is clearly one of the central themes in the movie. The chemistry between the two protagonists is undeniable. Although both Keats and Brawne have different interests and are widely different, it draws them together even more. Opposites do attract, don’t they? Fanny Brawne never cared for poetry and only focused on stitching together pieces of clothing which are making art just as Keats’ poetry brings out his version of art. What was quite intriguing was that after Fanny’s sister read just a few lines of Keats’ poetry to her, Fanny snatched the book back to read some more. We can see a growing interest and curiosity for Keats at that moment. Something about his style of writing and his way with words drew her in.
Although the movie had a very tragic ending, the movie made a big impact on its viewers. Keats was truly one of a kind. His ability as a poet made a lasting impression on Fanny. He changed her perception of poetry which is quite commendable. Keats’s career took off moments after his death adding a huge plot twist to the story. Fanny goes through a burst of emotions as soon as she hears news of Keats’s death expressed by a series of raw and intense scenes. It is safe to say that Bright Star is a movie that is definitely worth watching.
— Sada, Vishnu, Anusha