Thursday, February 26, 2015

February 26 - Bright Star

Today’s movie is a biographical romance with a scene that happens on February 26. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

BRIGHT STAR           

Fanny Brawne is introduced to poet John Keats and his friend Charles Brown. She buys Keats book of poems and visits his brother Tom, who later dies of tuberculosis. Keats spends Christmas with the Brawne family and he later starts to teach her poetry. They like each other, but Keats does nothing to advance the relationship, since he is poor. When Brown sends a Valentine’s card to Fanny, Keats confronts them. Brown says it was a joke, but warns Keats that Fanny is just a flirt. Fanny is angered at Keats lack of trust and ends their association. Then the Brawnes move into the other half of the house occupied by Keats and Brown and Fanny and Keats rapidly develop an intense affection for each other. When Keats and Brown take a summer holiday to the Isle of Wight, Fanny misses him terribly, at times even becoming suicidal. Only his letters sustain her and when he returns they become secretly engaged. Keats becomes ill after a trip to London and back in the rain and his friends plan to send him to the warmer climate of Italy to recover. Then Charles Brown impregnates the maid Abigail and cannot go with him. Keats lives in London, but returns to stay with the Brawnes when he has another attack of tuberculosis. Fanny’s mother agrees they can marry after Keats returns from Italy as his new book of poems has been a success. Keats goes to Italy, where he dies. On February 26, 1821 [1:48:29 to 1: 49:03] Keats’s funeral procession leaves the church in Rome carrying his body to the cemetery. Fanny goes into mourning. 

A psychological biopic/romance. Tries to explore the psychology of the poet as well as be a romance film. Overall, a fairly good movie.

John Keats by Robert Gittings (Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1968) at page 433

Producers - Jan Chapman and Caroline Hewitt

Director - Jane Campion

Awards – The film was nominated for the Best Costume Design Oscar at the 82nd Academy Awards. 

Screenplay - Jane Campion

Runtime – 1 hour 59 minutes

Released – May 15, 2009

Starring -        

Ben Whishaw as John Keats
Abbie Cornish as Fanny Brawne
Paul Schneider as Charles Armitage Brown
Kerry Fox as Frances Brawne
Thomas Sangster as Samuel Brawne
Antonia Campbell-Hughes as Abigail O'Donaghue Brown
Claudie Blakley as Mrs Dilke

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015






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