Bright Star (2009)

The three-year romance between 19th-century poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne near the end of his life.

Director:

Jane Campion

Writers:

Jane Campion, Jane Campion (screenplay)

Stars:

Abbie Cornish, Ben Whishaw, Paul Schneider

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 16 wins & 52 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Abbie Cornish	...	Fanny Brawne
Ben Whishaw	...	John Keats
Paul Schneider	...	Mr. Brown
Kerry Fox	...	Mrs. Brawne
Edie Martin	...	Toots
Thomas Brodie-Sangster	...	Samuel
Claudie Blakley	...	Maria Dilke
Gerard Monaco	...	Charles Dilke
Antonia Campbell-Hughes	...	Abigail
Samuel Roukin	...	Reynolds
Amanda Hale	...	Reynolds Sister
Lucinda Raikes	...	Reynolds Sister
Samuel Barnett	...	Mr. Severn
Jonathan Aris	...	Mr. Hunt
Olly Alexander	...	Tom Keats

Storyline

It's 1818 in Hampstead Village on the outskirts of London. Poet Charles Brown lives in one half of a house, the Dilkes family the other. Through association with the Dilkes, the fatherless Brawne family knows Mr. Brown. Mr. Brown and the Brawne's eldest daughter, Fanny, don't like each other. She thinks him arrogant and rude; he feels that she's a pretentious flirt, knowing only how to sew (admittedly well as she makes all her own fashionable clothes), and voicing opinions on subjects about which she knows nothing. Insecure struggling poet John Keats comes to live with his friend, Mr. Brown. Miss Brawne and Mr. Keats have a mutual attraction to each other, but their relationship is slow to develop, in part, since Mr. Brown does whatever he can to keep the two apart. Other obstacles face the couple, including their eventual overwhelming passion for each other clouding their view of what the other does, Mr. Keats' struggling career, which offers him little in the way of monetary ...

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Plot Keywords:

poet | passion | friend | john keats | 19th century | 

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Taglines:

First Love Burns Brightest

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements, some sensuality, brief language and incidental smoking

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [France] Official site [Japan]

Country:

UK Australia France

Language:

English French

Release Date:

9 October 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bright Star - Estrela Cintilante

Filming Locations:

Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$8,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£207,881 (United Kingdom), 8 November 2009, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$189,703, 20 September 2009, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$4,444,637, 10 December 2009

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pathé Renn Productions, Screen Australia, BBC Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The main star of the film, Ben Whishaw met his husband, composer Mark Bradshaw while both were working on this film. They got civilly married in 2012.

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Goofs

The large blue butterflies featured in the 'butterfly' sequence are tropical and would not have been found in Britain at that (or any other recent) time.

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Quotes

[last lines before credits]
Fanny Brawne: [speaking Keat's poem Bright Star] 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 masque / Of snow upon the mountains and the moors - / No - yet still stedfast, still unchangeable / Pillow'd upon my fair love's ...

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Crazy Credits

Ben Whishaw recites Keats' "Ode to a Nightingale" over the closing credits.

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Connections

Referenced in Jeopardy!: Episode #26.33 (2009)

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Soundtracks

Serenade in B flat, K361, Adagio
(1781)
Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (as Mozart)
Arranged by Mark Bradshaw

User Reviews

A perfect cinematic experience-a poem in film-probably the best pic of the year

Sitting in a packed cinema in Mill Valley, CA watching this film demonstrates that the film experience still exists and that great films can be made. This is a great movie experience because it is so gentle, simple and direct-no stunts-no noise-no robots-just a piece of history recreated with tenderness and poetic truth. Jane Champion shows how film can tell a story without interference and how the elements of film can join together to open a world of wonder and song.

The film is visual and very moving without being maudlin or melodramatic. It also refuses to dwell on the sensational, even the creative part of the story.

The viewer is left inspired to explore the creation of Keats, and no wonder. Such an introduction to a life would leave anyone hungry for more.

The performances are enchanting and almost mystical in scope. The cinematography is just inspired. So this is it-turn off your lap top and go to a show.....You will remember this for a very long time.