PBS' `JANE EYRE' CLOSE ENOUGH TO DIVINE.Byline: - David Kronke Even people who know nothing about ``Jane Eyre'' likely know the famous line from Charlotte Bronte's novel: ``Reader, I married him.'' Which would seem to be a bit of a challenge to adapt to a film version: Doing it straight underscores the fact that you're watching a film, not reading a book. Changing it to ``Viewer, I married him'' is worse; Bronte's book was published in 1847, decades before ``viewers'' of literary adaptations existed. In at least the 20th film or TV adaptation of Bronte's book, tonight's ``Masterpiece Theatre'' incarnation eschews the line. We first meet Jane as a young child, a roundly mistreated orphan subjected to all manner of indignities, such as being forced to wear a sign reading ``Liar'' before her peers. Her one friend, a sickly girl, welcomes her into her bed; she dies as they sleep, holding hands. Dickens' characters scarcely had it so bad. Flash forward a decade or so, and Jane (Ruth Wilson This article is about the accused Soviet spy. For the actress, see Ruth Wilson (actress). Ruth Beverly Wilson was married to Jacob Epstein. Epstein had been wounded in the Spanish Civil War after he volunteered for the International Brigades. ) is hired as a governess for Edward Rochester's (Toby Stephens) precociously bratty brat·ty adj. brat·ti·er, brat·ti·est Characteristic of or being a brat; ill-mannered. brat  ti·ness n. ward Adele (Cosima Littlewood). The Byronic Rochester's pernicious moodiness and secretiveness scarcely prevents Jane from falling for him, despite his affections for Lady Ingram (Francesca Annis). Complications, to say the least, ensue. Shot in muted colors and directed by Susanna White (``Bleak House''), this version absorbs the story's creepy, gothic aspects, as embodied in the behavior of the sinister Grace Poole (Pam Ferris) and others. Here, good news isn't even good news. Wilson (even with her brittle, measured half-smile, she's hardly as plain as Bronte described her) and Stephens exude ex·ude v. To ooze or pass gradually out of a body structure or tissue. a demure de·mure adj. de·mur·er, de·mur·est 1. Modest and reserved in manner or behavior. 2. Affectedly shy, modest, or reserved. See Synonyms at shy1. frisson. The story plays out leisurely -- perhaps too leisurely -- yet results in a solid, resonant adaptation. JANE EYRE This article is about the Victorian novel. For other uses, see Jane Eyre (disambiguation). Jane Eyre is a classic romance novel by Charlotte Brontë that was published in 1847 by Smith, Elder & Company, London. - Three stars What: ``Masterpiece Theatre'' adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's 1847 novel. Where: KCET KCET Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo (Japan) KCET Kamaraj College of Engineering and Technology . When: 9 tonight and Jan. 28. In a nutshell: Well-acted; protracted pro·tract tr.v. pro·tract·ed, pro·tract·ing, pro·tracts 1. To draw out or lengthen in time; prolong: disputants who needlessly protracted the negotiations. 2. . CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Toby Stephens is Edward Rochester opposite Ruth Wilson's title character in ``Jane Eyre,'' the latest in a long line of adaptations of Charlotte Bronte's novel, beginning tonight on KCET. |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion