This week’s pick is another television film – the 2006 BBC adaptation of Jean Rhys’ 1966 novel Wide Sargasso Sea. This is not to be confused with the 1993 film.
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Synopsis of the Source Material (I am greatly oversimplifying here)
In what can only be classified as a novel prequel to Charlotte Bronte 1847 Jane Eyre. Wide Sargasso Sea takes a look at the pre-Jane life of Edward Rochester during his years in the Caribbean and his entering the doomed marriage with Antoinette Cosway (Jane Eyre’s Bertha Mason). Antoinette/Bertha is a white Creole who finds it hard to fit into society and it is from her vantage point that we see her make that steady decline into the “madness” of the “lady in the attic” as described by Ms. Bronte.
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For all its virtues and entertainment it has provided me over the years, Jane Eyre (both the book and subsequent film adaptations) are very staid, emotionally cool pieces. Wide Sargasso Sea (book and film) are, on the other hand, a lush, exotic and sensual examination of the people and events surrounding them. Warning, this filmed version (starring personal faves Rafe Spall and Rebecca Hall) retains a lot of the overt sexuality from the source material. So if you are not familiar with the source material or the context in which it is placed, then this may not be for you. In other words, there is no “traditional” period romance going on here.
But for me the performances, especially that of Spall, made this a worthwhile watch. In very nearly every I see him in, he impresses me with his ability to embody a character.
I recognize that my appreciation for the intended aims of this film may be an outlier, but bear with me – there is a little bit of history here. Many many years ago, when I was in high school, a major block of our English literature study involved close examination of this and Jane Eyre. Heck I was even tempted to “break the rules” and catch the 1993 film upon its initial release, although I was not of age at the time. Ultimately, I did not have the guts to go through with it; but since that time, I have always been intrigued by the imagined world Antoinette/Bertha inhabited prior to her confinement in Thornfield Hall. This narrative provided an alternative glimpse into that world, even if from a post-colonial, feminist perspective.
Although it was not originally broadcast in the US, Wide Sargasso Sea is available for rental/purchase on DVD or via Amazon Streaming.
Be sure to check out Todd Mason’s blog for more awesome, overlooked or forgotten titles.
Have any of you seen this version OR the 1993 film?
What did you think about it?
Have you heard of/read the novel?
Patti Abbott says
August 28, 2012 at 9:01 amSaw the movie but not this series. I have got to learn to stream.
iluvcinema says
August 28, 2012 at 9:57 amHere is a link directly to the Amazon Stream for video http://www.amazon.com/Wide-Sargasso-Sea/dp/B001OEIKUI/ref=sr_1_2?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1346162014&sr=1-2&keywords=Wide+Sargasso+Sea+2006 – granted it is $10.00 but I am sure it is also available at the library.
Todd Mason says
August 28, 2012 at 9:15 amAs I’ve mentioned in mail, I’ve seen the 1993 film version, which struck me as slight and slightly more perfervid than passionate, though I like Jean Rhys (have yet to read the novel) and definitely gained an immediate appreciation for Karina Lombard’s aspect. I can imagine Hall could do very well by the role…
Todd Mason recently posted..Another 10 actors, a Canadian set
iluvcinema says
August 28, 2012 at 9:55 am🙂 I may have to check this out I think the innocence of youth has made me shy away from it for all these years.
Todd Mason says
August 28, 2012 at 9:17 amPatti, there’s no learning curve, for streaming video. But you do need a sufficiently-powered computer…
Todd Mason recently posted..Another 10 actors, a Canadian set
Yvette says
August 28, 2012 at 5:39 pmLike Patti says: saw the movie but not this series. I’ll have to see if Netflix has it, if not, there’s Amazon. Thanks for the tip, Iba.
Though I must say I find it hard to reconcile this creation with the original Mr. Rochester of Thornfield Hall. Maybe it’s just my own lack of imagination.
iluvcinema says
August 28, 2012 at 5:42 pmMind you I was an impressionable young lady and out English teacher was a staunch feminist. Brings back lovely memories. She was awesome. Ended up relocation to the forested Northwest of America.
Yvette says
September 5, 2012 at 2:50 pmCoincidentally, I wrote about the Orson Welles JANE EYRE yesterday. Welles and Timothy Dalton are my faves in the part of Rochester. Though Welles has it over Dalton in intensity.
I remain an impressionable young lady, Iba. HA! Make that an impressionable old lady. But the movie was kind of ‘in your face’ about it all.
Yvette recently posted..Forgotten (or Overlooked) Film Tuesday: JANE EYRE (1943) starring Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine
ruth says
August 29, 2012 at 11:21 amI didn’t even know there’s a BBC version of this movie. I want to see this only because I LOVE Jane Eyre and Mr Rochester so naturally I’m intrigued by his old life before he met Jane. Oh if only Timothy Dalton were still young enough to portray Rochester in a Wide Sargasso Sea adaptation, he was my favorite Rochester!
ruth recently posted..Musings on Hollywood Relentless Miscasting
iluvcinema says
August 30, 2012 at 10:58 amMaybe they should find a Dalton look alike!
ruth says
August 30, 2012 at 9:29 pmAhah, if only such a man exist.
ruth recently posted..‘Small Roles… Big Performances’ Blog-a-thon!
iluvcinema says
September 4, 2012 at 2:56 pm😉
Diana aka Aziza says
September 7, 2012 at 5:37 pmI had no idea there was a BBC movie about this topic- I actually didn’t even know about the book, so I am now very intrigued, because I loved Jane Eyre. I will definitely try to see this one soon! Thanks for talking about it!
Diana aka Aziza recently posted..Anna Karenina [2012]
iluvcinema says
September 9, 2012 at 11:25 amI will say this much. It is a very interesting read 🙂 Rather shorter than Eyre but definitely has a 20th century feel to it.