Jane Eyre (1996)

Director:

Franco Zeffirelli

Writers:

Charlotte Brontë (novel)
Hugh Whitemore (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

12 April 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

The passionate tale of forbidden secrets!

Plot:

Jane Eyre is an orphan cast out as a young girl by her aunt, Mrs. Reed, and sent to be raised in a harsh charity school for girls...

Plot Keywords:

Britain | England | Victorian | 19th Century | Gentleman

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Anna Paquin	...	Young Jane Eyre
Nic Knight	...	John Reed
Nicola Howard	...	Eliza Reed
Sasha Graff	...	Georgiana Reed
Fiona Shaw	...	Mrs. Reed
John Wood	...	Mr. Brocklehurst
Geraldine Chaplin	...	Miss Scatcherd
Amanda Root	...	Miss Temple
Leanne Rowe	...	Helen Burns
Charlotte Gainsbourg	...	Jane Eyre
Richard Warwick	...	John
Judith Parker	...	Leah
Joan Plowright	...	Mrs. Fairfax
Joséphine Serre	...	Adele (as Josephine Serre)
Billie Whitelaw	...	Grace Poole

Also Known As:

Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre (USA) (complete title)
Jane Eyre (France)

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

France | Italy | UK | USA

Language:

English | French

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | Australia:PG | Germany:6 (bw) | Spain:T | UK:PG | USA:PG | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Brimham Rocks, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, UK

Company:

Cineritino S.r.L.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: When Mrs. Fairfax puts down the photograph of a young Mr. Rochester in his bedroom, the boom pole is reflected in the photograph.

Quotes:

Jane Eyre: We are truly devoted, my Edward and I; our hearts beat as one; our happiness is complete.

Movie Connections:

Version of Jane Eyre (1963) (TV)

Zeffirelli's personal interpretation of Bronte's novel! Really moving!

Bronte's novel JANE EYRE has been brought to screen several times so far. This adaptation filmed by Franco Zeffirelli seems to me the most individual one. The director does not copy the book but entails his personal feelings and evaluations to the strange fate of Jane Eyre throughout the movie.

The film is made wonderfully: the cast, the music, the entire convention - It supplies the viewer with the right picture of the Victorian England. I particularly liked the scenes shot at Haddon Hall with William Hurt. He shines in his role! GREAT ACTOR! He memorably stresses Rochester's goodness combined with his boredom and fear of love, caused by his tragic life experience.

The sense of suspicion is also felt throughout. Jane (Charlotte Gainsbourg) comes to Mr Rochester's castle and hears strange laughter. It is much later when it occurs that it was Rochester's insane wife (Maria Schneider).

The way love is showed is very "Zeffirellian". He loves to show delicate love that is raising in time. There is a feeling on both sides, but it is Rochester who tries to show it first, especially because he considers Jane "an angel of happiness" that appeared in his tragic life. Jane is more "shy" but her way of dealing with Rochester changes, too.

The "Zeffirelian" way of showing love is also expressed when applied to friendship. Consider how Franco Zeffirelli shows the friendship between Helen Burns (Leanne Rowe) and Jane Eyre (Anna Paquin). One of the most touching moments of the movie is when Helen Burns dies and tells Jane that God cares for us. She was the girl that could notice everyone, even the orphan who was let down and terribly ignored by pious and pure "victorian teachers". Faith, open eyes connected with love and open heart is what Zeffirelli loved to show in most of his films.

The music is one of the best from the films I have seen so far. It's very moody but supplies the viewer with wonderful, sometimes even mystical experience. For long after seeing the film for the first time, the music, somehow unconsciously, rang in my ears. Really worth attention!

Maybe some people will treat my opinion with some irony but I must say that Zeffirelli's JANE EYRE can be watched many times and each time one can discover something new, something valuable, teaching, and moving.

TOUCHED INTO TEARS! That's what I feel whenever I watch this incredible film.