Sunday, November 1, 2009

Bright Star

Title: Bright Star

Actors: Abbie Cornish as Fanny Brawne.
Ben Whishaw as John Keats.
Director: Jane Campion

Rating: 5/5

BRIGHT STAR, WOULD I WERE STEDFAST

By John Keats

Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art---
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night
And watching, with eternal lids apart,
Like nature's patient, sleepless Eremite,
The moving waters at their priestlike task
Of pure ablution round earth's human shores,
Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors---
No---yet still stedfast, still unchangeable,
Pillowed upon my fair love's ripening breast,
To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,
And so live ever---or else swoon in death.

My heart is so full from seeing this movie this afternoon. The love between poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne, his muse, was intoxicating and brilliant. The poem, Bright Star, above was written for her during his last months of life.

I don't think I could put into words what this story was about because of the depth of emotion it held and the emotion I'm feeling right now. All I know is that I will seek out his poetry now and dig deeper into their love and his short life.

Let the trailer (and the brilliant poem above) tell you a little of the story. It takes a second to load but wait patiently, it's worth it. If this movie is near your neck of the woods, go see it. If not, spend a night warming up to someone you love and rent it.

Happy Viewing!

* red headed book child

6 comments:

Jenn (Books At Midnight) said...

Aghh, I wish this movie was near me! You make it sound great though, I'm going to have to check this out sometime. :)

Julie@My5monkeys said...

Oh I need to check this one out too.

Christine said...

The movie sounds lovely. I watched the trailer and really hope to see it. If I don't get to see it in theaters, I'll definitely rent it.

Krista said...

Oh, I love the poem and this sounds like a movie I'd love to watch! Thanks :)

P.S. just to let you know I shipped The Naming out to you this morning, so you should get it sometime in the next couple weeks :) Congrats again! :)

Michelle (Red Headed Book Child) said...

Jenn, Julie, Christine and Krista, this is a movie after my own heart. I love the time period (early 1800s),the setting (countryside just outside London), the beautiful houses, the amazing dresses, the poetry and of course, a love story everyone wants to have as their own. (sigh)

Truly extraordinary. It's quite an independent movie so it may take until next summer to see it on DVD but it's worth it. I'm guessing it will be nominated for an Academy Award. I think it should anyway!

Lisa said...

That poem is AMAZING. Seriously. And i am definately going to check out the film. Thanks for sharing!