Bright Star

As someone who has taught college literature courses for many years, I was brimming with excitement to see “Bright Star.” For those of us who love John Keats’ poetry, this movie gives breath to his work. Though, the main storyline focuses on the love affair between John Keats (Ben Whishaw), a struggling poet, and Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish), the girl next door. However, they do encounter some resistance. John’s friend and fellow poet Charles Armitage Brown (Paul Schneider) attempts to keep Fanny from seeing John so he can focus on his writing. In addition, Fanny’s mother (Kerry Fox) is leery of Fanny’s relationship with John. She tells Fanny that he doesn’t have the financial means to marry. Despite these objections, John and Fanny’s love for each other flourishes until he contracts tuberculosis and has to leave for Italy to convalesce.

Whether or not you are familiar with John Keats’ poetry, this movie will be a joy to watch. Jane Campion’s screenplay is brilliant, the acting is superb, and the plot will keep your interest to the very end. Furthermore, the movie doesn’t seem stuffy or pretentious. Even though it is set in London from 1818 to 1820, the emotions that are displayed by the characters are genuine, and the boy-meets-girl-next-door theme has universal appeal. For me, this film didn’t drag at all, and I found myself totally engaged with these characters, especially John and Fanny.

As for objectionable content, Mr. Brown smokes cigars. Also, I heard one mild profanity in the film when Fanny says, “I don’t care a d**n for stitches.” There are a few thematic elements that might bother some people, however. For example, we see blood stains on John’s clothing, and he is found lying in the bushes by Toots, Fanny’s little sister. We aren’t sure at this point if he is dead or not, and that adds an element of suspense and drama.

Unlike many period pieces, the writer/director Jane Campion didn’t add gratuitous sex scenes to help the film appeal to a mass audience. She is to be commended for this. There is absolutely no nudity or sexual content in the film. Though, you see Fanny’s cleavage on occasion, and John and Fanny kiss many times. The scene with the most intense passion shows John and Fanny lying on a bed embracing. He kisses her breast, though this isn’t seen since her back is to the camera.

The moral contrast between Mr. Brown and John Keats is very interesting. Mr. Brown fathers a child out of wedlock with the maid, Abigail. On the other hand, John has his limits with Fanny, even though Mr. Brown tries to persuade him to have sex with her. Brown says, “why not bed her; she’ll do whatever you wish.” This is confirmed later when Fanny touches his cheek and says, “I’ll do anything.” John responds by saying, “I have a conscience,” and then he walks away.

I found it incredibly refreshing to see a movie where a man has morals in the area of sexuality. Romans 12:9 says, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good” (NKJV). John Keats proves that he isn’t a hypocrite because he loved Fanny enough not to defile her. Unlike the relationship between Mr. Brown and Abigail, the relationship between John and Fanny is not just physical. The Bible says that love “does not seek its own” I Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV). John Keats didn’t seek his own will, or Fanny’s for that matter, in regard to their relationship. He was guided by a higher moral standard.

Finally, the title of the film, “Bright Star,” is very apropos. John Keats was a bright star who burned out too quickly. Though, he did leave a legacy of words that is still shining brightly. Keats wrote his own epitaph: “Here lies One Whose Name was writ in Water.” Keats, who struggled to be relevant during his lifetime, thought that no one would remember him. As this movie proves, he couldn’t have been more wrong.

Violence: Minor / Profanity: Minor / Sex/Nudity: None

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