With the use of wonderful art direction and costume design The Invisible Woman manages to capture the essence of the late Victorian period, as the film explores a fascinating romantic relationship that developed away from the limelight during the height of Charles Dickens's career. The story is told through the eyes of his mistress Nelly, who reminisces about her time with Dickens, and with the use of elegant transitions between the two timelines one is offered an interesting glimpse into the personal life of the great author, well depicted by Ralph Fiennes. A noticeable feature is the film's unique pace, which could be considered slow by some, as it is designed in a gentle and subtle manner, thus matching the intimacy of the tender affair that is explored. Sadly though, one is primarily left with the feeling that the film does not offer enough, as The Invisible Woman deals with merely a fraction of the complex dynamic between Dickens and Nelly, and the audience is ultimately required to imagine and speculate about the true nature and passion of Dickens's secret relationship.
Review of The Invisible Woman
