Imagine watching The English Patient at the theaters the weekend it came out and then watching Wuthering Heights the next day at school. It is bound to make you Ralph Fiennes fan for life.
Although I am a romantic that loves happy endings, I had loved reading Wuthering Heights, written by Emily Bronte. It is perfect for any English class and it just absorbed me. It is haunting, depressing and captivating. Although boys might argue that girls might find this story more fascinating (and they may be right), this is definitely not a chick-flick type of novel. True, there is an obsessive and passionate love story at the very core, but the essence is much more than that. Social perceptions, expectations and norms affect lead character Cathy’s actions. But before Cathy started caring about this stuff, there is the jealousy that caused his brother Hindley’s actions that would also help shape his fate and others’.
Alright, before I get all society-criticizing on you, I should go over the plot. There is a big chance you read the book and/or seen one version of this movie but I’ll remind you anyway.
Catherine Earnshaw’s father one day brings a poor boy at home. He has no one, so he wants his daughter Cathy and his brother Hindley to treat this boy –Heathcliff- like a sibling. Cathy and Heathcliff do indeed become great friends. However Hindley (Jeremy Northam) despises him and he starts treating him like a worthless being as soon as the father dies. This doesn’t stop the inseparable duo from hanging out together. It’d be fair to say they are much more than friends, although they have never exactly acted on it. So Heathcliff (Ralph Fiennes) doesn’t leave Wuthering Heights no matter how badly he is treated. But one day Cathy (Juliette Binoche) has a little accident and is taken care of by the Lintons, a rich and well-respected family. Cathy becomes friends with the sister and brother (Edgar) Lintons. When she returns home, she seems spoilt and too ladylike for Heathcliff’s liking. She also spends less time with him and seems romantically interested in Edgar. What causes Heathcliff to run away, and change everyone’s lives forever is his hearing Cathy that marrying him would be degrading. When Heathcliff comes back years later, he is wealthy, bitter and ready to take on anyone who caused him to suffer so badly.
This movie/novel does a great job depicting the dark sides of human nature. Ralph Fiennes is superb as the passionate and star-crossed lover. He plays his role to such perfection that even when Heathcliff turns into a mean bastard, causing pain to people who didn’t even hurt him, you understand him. Ralph becomes Heathcliff and makes you feel every bit of his frustration, possession, desperation, loss of innocence and more.
Juliette Binoche is equally brilliant. With any lesser actress, Cathy could have come off as one-dimensional, superficial character. Although I never approved of Cathy’s decision of choosing Edgar over Heathcliff, you can’t help but understanding why.
I love this film, even though I usually hate depressing love stories. But hey, what kind of romantic- even with optimistic tendencies like mine- doesn’t like this film? Did you know that it is one of Johnny Depp’s favorite movies? When asked if he is a romantic, he answers “Well, I saw Wuthering Heights for like 10 times. What do you think?”
See it. Just make sure you are not expecting happiness and light mood. One of the best and most touching period pieces.
Never heard of this movie. Great review!
Thanks. I really love this movie. The actors really make you feel the pain and I do believe Emily Bronte wouldn’t complain if she could have seen this.
I like your review. Watched this one way back. I remember it managed to develop the theme of love-hate with extreme ferocity n portrayed how love can evoke pity and repulsion. Such contrasts convey the eternal dichotomy of human love.
Thanks for commenting on the blog, Shamyl.
You are right about the extremes. What fascinates me about this movie is that I can strongly feel for the characters even though I have absoltely nothing in common with them. It is amazing. A really good period piece with the perfect cast and art direction.
Wuthering Heights, a gothic novel; it is simply Emily Bronte’s masterpiece !!
She was a far better writer than her sister Charlotte; even though I also admire Charlotte’s work, such as Jane Eyre.
I love so much Wuthering Heights, that I am writing a romance based upon Emily’s book.
Ralph Fiennes incarnated Heathcliff’s role as if he was born to interpretate that part. Just like in Kate Bush’s song: “We loved him, we hated him, we wanted him…”
And for Juliette Binoche, oh well, I could not imagine anyone else who could play Cathy’s part with the same passion and perfection… Absolutely brilliant !!! Wonderful movie.
Welcome back, Patricia.
You’re writing a romance novel based on Wuthering Heights? Wow, that would be so cool. Well, I can’t wait for you get your published work anyway,no matter what they are based on.
I have got to get my hands on that song! It is so about Heathcliff.
Juliette is one of the most talented and gorgeous actresses ever. She redefines beauty and talent. Fingers crossed for another Binoche/Fiennes cooperation.
I love Kate Bush’s Wuthering Heights… it’s one of my favourite songs ever… and, yes, it is very much about Heathcliff… the one we love and hate. The perfect bad guy, whom we desire so much !!!
Well, I love Heathcliff but come one, I don’t desire him because he is bad. I loved him the first moment I saw him. Sure, I had liked the character in the novel to but my imagination couldn’t compare to Ralph Fiennes’ wild sex appeal. Heathcliff was turned to a bad guy. He held on and was a nice guy, up until he got the final blow from Cathy. And the rest of the movie/book, appeals to my revenge-loving side. I only feel sorry for Cathy’s daughter a little bit c’mon…Heathcliff couldn’t have done anyone any harm, had any of them shown any common sense. And Edgar’s sister? He said to her face that he was a mean bastard only after her money. What an idiot! 🙂
I love guys who are so gorgeous that make you think they couldn’t be nice… but deep down, they are nice anyhow. I stopped loving Heathcliff as a romantic character after he turned psycho- But he remained my favorite character all the same. Gothic rocks!
And I love dark long hair on Ralph!!!
But yeah, bad boys sell novels. I have a couple of bad boys in my stories as well. Hope people will read and/or watch them at one point.
My favorite all time movie. Watched it again last night. I love the passion, the darkness, the joy and the desperation of Heathcliff and Cathy. The scene that gets me every time is when Heathcliff breaks through the door to get to Cathy and how he does not want to let go…even in death. It’s a must see.
The funny thing is normally I hate dark, possessive, obsessive and jealous. I’m not saying she was any better, but in a guy, Heathcliff would be my absolute nightmare – but Ralph Fiennes makes such roles so attractive – his performances are so raw and intense and powerful that I find myself rooting for him even if I disapprove of everything he does. He had this effect on me with The English Patient too.