Wuthering Heights is widely considered to be one of the greatest novels ever written, yet not much is known about the book’s author. In EMILY, which opens in local cinemas on 11 November, actor-turned-writer/director Frances O’Connor attempts to remedy this by offering an imagined glimpse into the Brontë family’s lives.
This exceptional film, described by film critic Leon van Nierop as “a haunting insight into the tortured psyche of a writer”, was also recently nominated for four British Independent Film Awards (BIFA), including Best Lead Actor, Best Supporting Actor (Fionn Whitehead), Best Ensemble Performance and Best Debut Director. Winners will be announced on 4 December 2022.
The film stars Emma Mackey as Emily, who is portrayed as a rebel and misfit who is wild, free and fiercely independent. It starts with a newcomer, clergyman William Weightman (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), coming to the remote village of Haworth, where the Brontë family lives. His arrival disrupts proceedings and causes emotional ripples which gather momentum as the story unfolds.
The Brontë girls – Emily, Charlotte (Alexandra Dowling) and Anne (Amelia Gething) – are initially quite curious about William, but soon become dismissive. However, things start to shift when William is tasked with giving Emily French lessons, resulting in an intense and all-consuming affair. It is this forbidden and ultimately doomed love which inspired the writing of Wuthering Heights.
In addition to the relationship between Emily and William, the film explores the other relationships that shaped Emily’s life, especially her raw, passionate sisterhood with Charlotte and Anne, and her care for her maverick brother Branwell (Fionn Whitehead), whom she idolises. The film also stars Adrian Dunbar and Gemma Jones.
More broadly, EMILY is a coming-of-age story about a young woman finding herself and her authentic voice and power in the world. Starting off as a timid and shy girl seeking her father’s approval, she evolves and develops extensively over the course of the film.
EMILY is O’Connor’s directorial debut, from her own original screenplay, in which she blends historical accuracy about the Brontë’s lives with Emily’s imagined world. The film is beautifully acted, lovingly shot, and intensely imagined and takes audiences on a journey that initially might feel familiar to fans of the Brontës, but which also offers up a fresh new take on the life of one of literature’s most mysterious authors, delving deep into the psyche of Emily and those closest to her as she navigates who she really is and what she is to become.
Loosely biographical, the film focuses on the imagined life of one of the world’s most famous but mysterious authors and is a must-see for Brontë fans, Wuthering Heights aficionados, literature students, and book lovers.
EMILY is locally distributed by Filmfinity Pty (Ltd.).
THE FILM WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING CINEMAS:
Ster-Kinekor:
- Bedford Square (Johannesburg)
- Brooklyn (Pretoria)
- Cedar Square (Johannesburg)
- Cresta (Johannesburg)
- Garden Route Mall (George)
- Gateway (Durban)
- Rosebank Nouveau (Johannesburg)
- Sam Levy (Harare)
- Somerset Mall (Cape Town)
- Tygervalley (Cape Town)
- V & A Waterfront (Cape Town)
NuMetro:
- Ballito (Durban)
- Canal Walk (Cape Town)
- Hyde Park (Johannesburg)
- Menlyn Park (Pretoria)
- Pavilion (Durban)
Independent Cinemas:
- Labia (Cape Town)
- Whale Coast (Hermanus)
Rolprent Wat Losweg Gebaseer Is Op Die Lewe Van Emily Brontë Open 11 November
Wuthering Heights word oor die algemeen beskou as een van die gewildste romans wat ooit geskryf is, maar daar is nie veel bekend oor die skrywer van die boek nie. In EMILY, wat op 11 November in plaaslike rolprentteaters open, poog die akteur-skrywer/ -regisseur Frances O’Connor om dit reg te stel deur ’n kykie in die Brontë-gesin se lewens te bied.
Dié besonderse film, wat deur Leon van Nierop beskryf word as ’n “meesleurende vertelling oor die innerlike worsteling van ’n skrywer” is ook onlangs benoem vir vier Britse onafhanklike rolprenttoekennings (BIFA), insluitend Beste hoofrol, Beste ondersteunende rol (Fionn Whitehead), Beste ensemble-vertolking en Beste debuut-regisseur. Die wenners word op 4 Desember 2022 aangekondig.
Emma Mackey vertolk die rol van Emily, wat uitgebeeld word as ’n rebel wat wild, vry en onafhanklik is. Dit begin met ’n nuweling, William Weightman (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), wat na die afgeleë dorpie Haworth toe kom. Sy koms ontwrig nie net verrigtinge nie, maar veroorsaak emosionele rimpelings wat momentum kry soos die verhaal ontvou.
Die Brontë-meisies – Emily, Charlotte (Alexandra Dowling) en Anne (Amelia Gething) – is aanvanklik nuuskierig oor William, maar verloor gou belangstelling. Dinge begin egter verander wanneer William die taak kry om vir Emily Franse lesse te gee en hulle ’n intense verhouding begin. Dieselfde tipe verbode en verdoemde liefde wat Wuthering Heights geïnspireer het.
Benewens die passie tussen Emily en William, ondersoek die film die verskillende verhoudings wat Emily se lewe gevorm het, veral haar rou, passievolle susterskap met Charlotte en Anne, en haar heldeverering vir haar ongenaakbare broer Branwell (Fionn Whitehead). Adrian Dunbar en Gemma Jones is ook in die fliek te sien.
Basies is EMILY ’n storie oor volwassenheid – oor ’n vrou wat haar eie stem en krag in die wêreld moet ontdek. Sy begin as ’n skaam en teruggetrokke meisie wat haar pa se goedkeuring soek aan die begin van die fliek, maar groei en ontwikkel heelwat met die verloop van die film.
EMILY is O’Connor se eerste poging as die regisseur van haar eie draaiboek, waarin sy historiese akkuraatheid oor die Brontë’s se lewens met Emily se verbeeldingswêreld vermeng. Die toneelspel is puik en die prent is met liefde verfilm en uitgedink. Dit neem gehore op ’n reis wat aanvanklik bekend sou voel vir aanhangers van die Brontës, maar bied ook ’n vars blik op die lewe van een van die literatuur se mees geheimsinnige skrywers, en delf diep in die psige van Emily en die mense naaste aan haar, terwyl sy ontdek wie sy werklik is en wat sy gaan word.
Die rolprent is gebaseer op die voorgestelde lewe van een van die wêreld se bekendste en geheimsinnigste skrywers en is ’n móét vir Brontë-aanhangers, Wuthering Heights-liefhebbers, literatuurstudente en boekwurms.
EMILY word plaaslik versprei deur Filmfinity Pty (Ltd.).
DIE ROLPRENT IS TE SIEN BY DIE VOLGENDE BIOSKOPE:
Ster-Kinekor:
- Bedford Square (Johannesburg)
- Brooklyn (Pretoria)
- Cedar Square (Johannesburg)
- Cresta (Johannesburg)
- Garden Route Mall (George)
- Gateway (Durban)
- Rosebank Nouveau (Johannesburg)
- Sam Levy (Harare)
- Somerset Mall (Kaapstad)
- Tygervallei (Kaapstad)
- V & A Waterfront (Kaapstad)
NuMetro:
- Ballito (Durban)
- Canal Walk (Kaapstad)
- Hyde Park (Johannesburg)
- Menlyn Park (Pretoria)
- Pavilion (Durban)
Onafhanklike bioskope:
- Labia (Kaapstad)
- Whale Coast (Hermanus)
