saw carey mulligan talking this one up on graham norton's show
directed by thomas vinterberg - the hunt - that a scarily good film
this one also getting rave reviews and a big score on rotten tomatoes
a good period piece is always good value so that convinces us to see it
the film an adaptation of a well-known book apparently though not read
so it will be interesting to see if the film can deliver to us new-comers
bathsheba everdene (mulligan) is in voiceover in the opening scene
explaining the unknown source of her name and early loss of parents
1870 dorset - she a farmhand and keen horsewoman in her own time
the hills and dales of the english countryside seen as she gallops her horse
so yes stunning scenery and no doubt it will be a major character also
she has a chance meeting with her farmer neighbour gabriel oak (yep)
he is as wholesome and handsome as she is fearless and beautiful
he proposes on the spot - startled but says she has no need for a man
the use of light and close-ups tells us there is only one way this will end
a turn of events sees him lose his flock and farm - she inherits her own
a childless uncle leaving her his large estate including a huge mansion
including a team of workers that she promises to astound with her work
she has another single male neighbour - a wealthy farmer - he is smitten
on a visit by her he announces he has good pigs - and will you marry me
crikey these lads don't muck around though presumably a sign of the times
she politely announcing she does not wish to be anyone's property - thanks
farmer oak then mysteriously shows up looking for work and is appointed
in another sub-plot a soldier is seen jilted at the alter by his young bride
seems she went to the wrong church - he in despair heads for the hills
and lo and behold ends up on bathsheba's farm and a chance meeting
he in full uniform and armed with a sword proceeds to seduce her
impresses with deft swordplay and a passionate kiss and touch-up
this after her announcement that she has never been kissed - swoon
quite comical really - and more so as he then sweeps her off her feet
a secret rendezvous, a secret marriage, total seduction all in a heartbeat
thinking - probably chapters of a book compressed into a couple of scenes
and more so - what happened to the fiercely independent and proud woman?
back at the estate and wedding party night he reveals himself as the prig he is
poor gabriel - has promised to look after her and is witness to this nonsense
but wait - another twist - soldier-boy spots his real love at a local market
begging and pregnant with his child and a promise from him to save her
but before he can she dies in childbirth - he then wades into a wild sea
suicide apparently so problem solved and bathsheba now free again
months of mourning and good harvests and a happy christmas party
her lonely neighbour now feeling the time is right to get her hand
but at the party soldier boy re-appears - he was saved it seems
hauling his wife away he is shot dead by the wealthy neighbour
prison for him, death for the other - leaving - gabriel - and yep
they all lived happily ever after - as predicted in an early scene
na - nice scenery and great costumes - sure - acting - is fine
but what a fizzer of a story up there on the big screen at least
i suspect the book is hugely rewarding but the film is flawed
assumptions are made, character development is truncated
which may account for the unlikely relationships that form
but - the book readers and the anglophiles will love it...
