With her new film , ‘Bright Star’, Jane Campion has chosen to make a classic based on true life love story.

‘Bright Star’ charts the course of the love story that took place in the early nineteenth century between the great English poet John Keats (Ben Whishaw) and his mistress Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish). Theirs was not the case of love at first sight. To begin with, Brawne couldn’t stand the brash, young poet with a burgeoning reputation. By the end, Brawne could not keep her mind from having thoughts of him.

What sucks one in about ‘Bright Star’ is that, through the film, there’s so much conflict and tension bubbling away under the surface. The love triangle that develops between Keats, Brawne and Keats’s best friend, Charles Brown (Paul Schneider) is beautifully played out. Paul Schneider gives a great performance as Brown, his expressions are classic as
we see him become increasingly aggravated by the pert young Brawne coming to visit Keats at their home. Campion alludes to more than a hint of Brown having homosexual feelings towards Keats!

Kerry Fox gives a memorable performance as Fanny’s very concerned mother who grows ever more anxious as the relationship between Brawne and Keats intensifies. It’s not hard to work out where Mrs Brawne is coming from. She has brought up her middle class family well and she doesn’t want her beautiful daughter getting too involved with a poor, struggling poet.

For Mrs Brawne there’s worse to come. Already frail, Keats develops life threatening tuberculosis. His Doctor says that his best chance of survival is if he goes to live in Italy. Fanny’s feelings for Keats become more anxious and stronger. At Fanny’s behest when Keats’s health deteriorates, Ms Brawne allows Keats to stay in the family home till he improves. Ti Mrs Brawne’s further anxiety the couple are even talking about wanting to get married!

It’s a classic story line, and with it Campion artfully crafts a very superior romantic movie. For a few hours we are taken into, and left to immerse ourselves, in this deeply romantic world complete with a lovesick heroine, beautifully played by Abbie Cornish, some stunning cinematography by Greig Fraser and rich orchestral classical music. If you are a romantic, ‘Bright Star’ will shine for you!