Bright Star (film review)

This bitter-sweet, tender dramatisation of the love affair between English poet John Keats and the girl next door, Fanny Brawne, is exquisitely directed, written, photographed and acted. The two main leads, Abbie Cornish and Ben Wishaw, are particularly impressive and have great chemistry together, with many tender and beautifully captured love scenes between them. I say 'love scenes' and not 'sex scenes', but despite the lack of the latter Bright Star is brimming with sexuality. It's a bit like Pride And Prejudice in that respect. It also pulls no punches in depicting the hardships of early 19th century Britain; from the poverty and limited healthcare, to a women's lot to marry a rich husband out of necessity. Despite these circumstances, the love story within Bright Star has a very authentic feel to it, played out with lovely naturalism. A poignant, moving and affecting film that captures both the happiness and the pain that love can inspire. 8/10