I missed Andrea Arnold‘s Wuthering Heights at the Toronto International Film Festival, but I wasn’t exactly bummed considering those that did see it and would be more likely to enjoy it than me didn’t relay to me glowing impressions. There have, however, been others that loved it as it came out of Venice with plenty of kudos.
Based on early images and what I’ve heard, it’s an incredibly minimalistic feature with very little dialogue. If you, however, are a fan of Bronte’s book and are looking forward to this film there is one person’s opinion you should listen to as this is right up her alley. Local Seattle critic Moira Macdonald, who writes for the “Seattle Times”, did see it in Toronto and here is what she had to say:
Andrea Arnold’s “Wuthering Heights” is neither sunny nor cheery or romantic — in other words, it’s wonderfully true to Emily Bronte’s book, which is not about romance but about dark, dangerous passion. It’s an often violent movie, and an often beautiful one; shot on the Yorkshire Moors where the mist seems to be a character in the film. Those looking for a pretty period piece will probably flee the theater early (several did tonight); those looking for a brutally honest depiction of a brilliant, disturbing novel will find it. As she did in “Fish Tank,” Arnold uses mostly inexperienced actors here, to good effect; there’s not a lot of dialogue, as those moors do a lot of the talking.
I still fully intend to see this once Oscilloscope Pictures (they picked it up out of Toronto) releases it and I hope I can enjoy it as much as Moira did. Like Arnold’s previous film, Fish Tank, she has again shot it in 1.33:1 and it certainly looks beautiful, but as someone that hasn’t read the book I wonder how much it will speak to me. Have a look at the teaser below and see what you think.
