Emily, directed by Frances O’Connor, is a 2022 biopic about Emily Brontë, a 19th century writer famous for her sole novel, Wuthering Heights. Released initially in the UK in October 2022, this film has finally had its wide release in the US in 2023. I had tempered expectations heading into this one simply because most 1800’s English period pieces, at least the ones I’ve seen, are uninventive romance films with cookie cutter characters and plots. This one, fortunately, breaks the mold in almost all the right places, and keeps what the standard movie in this genre does well.
My favorite thing about this movie, and what really separates it from its contemporaries, is the clear inspiration it takes from modern horror movies à la Ari Aster and Robert Eggers, among others. I will admit that one of these scenes feels like they’re wearing that influence on their sleeve a tad too much and feels shoehorned in just to give a nod to those aforementioned directors. The scene I’m talking about does feel a bit forced, but that’s not to say it isn’t extremely entertaining and well-directed.
The entire film is well-directed and takes chances with its directing and cinematography that many other English period pieces simply wouldn’t. There are long and continuous shots, interesting cuts, different uses of lighting, and beautiful landscapes. This variety in direction will keep you invested in what some would consider a slow story. I am not one of those people, but I understand how one could see it that way.
What truly holds this film back from being a masterclass, in both a biographical sense and a romantic one, is the story in relation to its romance. There is what feels like a 20 minute montage of the couple making love in different locations, and they use it as a way to progress the love between these two people, which doesn’t really work. They could have either cut 90% of it, or used that time to actually develop their relationship. They’re not a completely undeveloped pair, but that time could’ve been much better spent to make us care more for the climax of the film.
The acting all around is great, but Emma Mackey puts on an incredible lead performance as Emily Brontë. I had heard of Sex Education before, but never really cared to watch it. After seeing Emma Mackey in this, I’m definitely going to give it a shot, even if it’s just for her. All of the side characters are good in this, but Fionn Whitehead as Branwell Brontë and Oliver Jackson-Cohen as William Weightman are stellar. Every scene with Branwell feels like there are two leads with how much attention he commands.
Final Thoughts
Although my hopes were not the highest prior to watching this, I had a great experience and will gladly watch again in the future. If you’re completely against period pieces or romance films, then this is not for you. If you’re interested in trying out either of those genres, I don’t see why this isn’t a great place to start. I highly recommend this if you’re a fan of either of those genres, or are a reader that has enjoyed Wuthering Heights, or any of Emily Brontë’s poetry.
