A couple of reviews that we are very glad to report. As you probably remember, some months ago
we ran a contest giving away a copy of
Ann Dinsdale's The Brontës at Haworth. The winner of the contest, Polly, has written to us sharing her impressions on the book with the readers of BrontëBlog:
Having never visited Haworth myself, I was impressed with the attempt to recreate Haworth of the Brontės' time for the reader. The exterior photos of the present-day Parsonage and Village from so many varying distances and angles gave me a sense of the layout and scale that text descriptions have never provided me before.
Ann Dinsdale provided details of the Parsonage and its vicinity (including the additions, removals and restorations over the years) that served as a further reference. I've read before about the harrowing conditions in Haworth during the Brontės' time, nevertheless the images of the vast graveyard, its compactly-laid markers, and its exact proximity to the Parsonage still surprised me.
I was also impressed with the generous amount of information and imagery contained in this 160 page book. Ann Dinsdale gave a satisfying account of their lives, works, and as mentioned above, a sense of what their daily environment was like.
Simon Warner's photographs of the Parsonage, the Village, the countryside, and locations that inspired the sisters were quietly and beautifully evocative of their literary works. The detail evident in the full-page photographs especially drew me in. Among the many artifacts pictured I especially liked that each family member's handwriting was represented, when possible, through images of manuscripts, essays, letters and journals. (In the case of Patrick's wife Maria and their two eldest daughters, Maria and Elizabeth, their samplers were included instead.)
I am now inspired to re-read Juliet Barker's exhaustive biography, now that I have so many visual references to enhance it. (Polly Sipes)
The other review is from Sangdil (1952). This Indian movie that more or less adapts Jane Eyre (it is available on the NetFlix service, for instance). It was originally published in the Brontë Yahoo List. His author, Jon Knapp, has kindly give us permission to reproduce it here.
This version of Charlotte's masterpiece is both a loose interpretation as to setting, structure, and story; as well as a faithful conformation of spirit, purpose, and charm.
A black and white musical set in the early twentieth century India, 'Sangdil' is a lengthy and full attempt to render the story of Jane Eyre into a translation which could resonate with the ethos and mores of its intended audience. What results is a movie in which I delighted in witnessing both its liberal (and culturally necessary) diversions from CB's story and structure, and its intermittent and heart-felt faithfulness to varying details (sometimes small, sometimes substantial) of the original Bronte work. Perhaps that is the most wonderful and entertaining element for any Brontë aficionado's viewing of this, perhaps now obscure, production! I became more and more interested, surprised, and delighted with each new unfolding of the plot saying to myself:
Oh, I recognize that! That's new But where are we going here?..Oh now I see! There was a wonderful balance of the familiar with the exotic; with which any JE fan will soon enter into a game of try to connect the dots.
Film and sound quality will immediately impress the viewer as more of a 1930's cinema quality. It reminded me of watching the very first Hollywood King Kong or Tarzan or Phantom of the Opera movie. The language spoken is Hindi (I think) with English subtitles. And of course anyone not familiar with Indian Bollywood style movie-making will have to prepare themselves for wonderful songs and dances to brake out at any moment ;^) Are you ready to watch Jane or Rochester strike a pose and belt out a song? (50 years before Jane Eyre: The Musical).(...)
Some fun notes on a few specifics:
The Jane and Edward characters start the movie as childhood sweethearts! !! With the appropriate corresponding class differences and evil quasi-inlaws. (Could this have been an intentional homage to WH?). One must prepare one's self for the first song: a dream of Jane's with the two children riding through the sky together on a white horse! (Again, suited more for WH's Catherine and Heathcliff.) They then are separated for many years only to reenter each others lives not recognizing each other (yes, a horse is involved at this reunion and Jane has a neat and brief little flashback to her childhood dream horse).
Although there is an undeniable Brocklehurst villain, sensitivities necessitate a quick subsequent diversion in plot by placing the young orphan Jane into the stable and honorable vocation as a novitiate/nun/ priestess at some ashram or temple-like institution. At first I didn't grasp the point of this; later I saw how it particularly served to reveal Jane's ultimate and unwavering journey of integrity (within the particular limits of cultural time and setting).
Edward is very fun to watch as a reckless rake who is very constrained by the limits of a doubly G-rated (General Audience rating here in the States) venue.
Blanche is as mercenary as required; and Edward's gypsy (in this case, astrologe) was a most memorable scene, very cute.
The Berth actress did a more than admirable job of creeping me out! (not since Lon Cheney's Phantom)
Almost all the acting was high quality and convincing (within the melodramatic style of that time).
Dozens of classic elements of JE are portrayed in unique, surprising, and pleasing ways. (...)
This is no 1934 Jane Eyre, with Colin Clive and Virginia Bruce, at which you wish to throw popcorn due to its painful absurdity. Sangdil is a Jane Eyre which you may find strange and different; but you will want to warmly embrace its efforts, no matter how apparently unfamiliar or Bronte-irreverent even through a second viewing.
Check these clips on YouTube. Picture Source: ThisBeciel.
Categories: Books, Jane Eyre, Movies-DVD-TV
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