Value in Sticking to the Script

The novel Jane Eyre is vastly intriguing, standing the test of centuries.  What is most astounding is how relevant the story remains after all these years.  There is so much demand for the story that it has been adapted into three movies in just the last twenty years.  Each film differs in representing the characters, setting, and storyline.  Each piece takes creative license on many aspects of the plot, but some choices make more sense than others.

The Franco Zeffirelli film has by far the best Jane.  Charlotte Gainsbourg looks the most like Jane would, and has the passion ate and logical mind needed.  She interacts with the other characters in the most authentically Janian of the three versions.  However, the Rochester is a tad too stiff and harsh to completely embody the character.  The aspect I like most about this film is it's accuracy to the novel; out of the three, it stays closest to the original plot and wording.  The scene that best exemplifies this is Rochester's proposal; it takes place at night and in the orchard, just as per the book.

Susanna White does a decent job of staying with the overall story line and creating interest in the piece. On a side note, I enjoy that the girl who plays young Jane is Georgie Henley, the same actress that played Lucy in the Chronicles of Narnia.  However, Rochester's proposal takes place in the daytime, which is contradictory to the book.  During the day, Jane was usually with Adele, so it makes little sense that the two would have the time to have the discussion during the day.

Last but not least, Cary Fukunaga's Jane Eyre has the highest production value.  Clearly a lot of time and energy (not to mention money) was put into this film.  However, this version least akin to the book, creating its own plot from bits and pieces of the novel.  While this is not necessarily a poor decision, it simply tells a different story.  And viewing this as a person who views that book plotlines as sacred, I cannot appreciate this film as well as the others.  Both the Jane and the Rochester are well-cast, but it's hard to get past the shifts in the story.

My favorite film, which much deliberation, is the Zefferelli.  Aside from Fukunaga's production value and White's Adele, I appreciate how closely Zefferelli's stays to the novel but still finds new life in the story.  THe Jane is a bit more well-cast than the Rochester, but I appreciate the pairing.  Also, who can forget the way Rochester's horse fell in the scene where Jane and Rochester meet- it is quite hilarious.