 | Starring: Hugh Dancy, Romola Garai, Hugh Bonneville, Jodhi May, Edward Fox Director: Tom Hooper (II) Format: Closed-captioned Colour DVD-Video Widescreen NTSC Released: 17 Apr 2007 Average Rating:  |
Set in England in the 1870's, the viewer is given a glimpse into the lives of British Jews, a society-within-a-society, though Daniel Deronda. Interestingly enough, most of Miss Eliot's contemporaries were oblivious to the Jews, who lived totallly outside their frame of reference. Through her heroine, Gwendolyn Harleth, (Romola Garai), who marries for money & power rather than love, Eliot & the film explore a side of human relations that leads only to despair.
Daniel sees Gwendolyn, for the first time, at a roulette table. He is fascinated by her classical, blonde English beauty, & vivacious, self-assured manner. When Miss Harleth is forced to sell her necklace to pay gambling debts, Deronda, a disapproving observer, buys back the jewelry, anonymously, & returns it to her. This is not the last time the deeply spiritual & altruistic Deronda will feel a need to rescue Gwendolyn.
Daniel was adopted as a young boy by Sir Hugo, (Edward Fox), an English gentleman. He has received affection, a good education, & to some extent, position, from his guardian. However, Deronda has never been told the story of his true parentage, & sorely feels this lack of roots & his own identity. Not content to play the gentleman, he always appears to be searching for a purpose in life, & a spiritual center.
Daniel's & Gwendolyn's lives intersect throughout the novel. They feel a strong mutual attraction initiallly, but Gwendolyn, with incredible passivity, decides to marry someone she knows is a scoundrel, for his wealth. The decision will haunt her as her life becomes a nightmare with the sadistic Henleigh Grandcourt, (Hugh Bonneville), her husband.
At about the same time, Daniel inadvertently saves a young woman from suicide. He finds young Mirah Lapidoth, (Johdi May), near drowning, by the river & takes her to a friend's home to recover. There she is made welcome & asked to stay. She is a Jewess, abducted from her mother years before, by her father, who wanted to use the child's talent as a singer to earn money. When young Mirah forced her voice beyond its limits, & lost her ability to sing, her father abandoned her. She has never been able to reunite with her mother & brother, & was alone & destitute, until Daniel found her. Daniel, in his search for Mirah's family, meets the Cohens, a Jewish shop owner & his kin. Deronda feels an immediate affinity with them & visits often. He also comes to know a Jewish philosopher & Zionist, Mordecai, (Daniel Evans), & they forge a strong bond of friendship.
Daniel finallly does discover his identity, & has a very poignant & strange meeting with his mother. He had been earnestly taking steps to make a meaningful existence for himself, & with the new information about his parents & heritage, he is able to act on his dreams.
One of the novel's most moving scenes is when Daniel & Gwendolyn meet for the last time. Gwendolyn has grown from a self-centered young woman to a mature, thoughtful adult, who has suffered & grown strong.
This is an extraordinary period piece, directed with wit & subtlety by Tom Hooper. The cast is outstanding as are their performances. Lush costumes & beautiful scenery add richness to the film. However, like the novel, the movie is lacking. It is too metaphysical, too metaphorical, too much a morality play. There's not enough verve & vigor!! Although Hugh Bonneville's Grandcourt, does make a fabulous scoundrel.
I did thoroughly enjoy this BBC production, flaws & alll. It is wonderful entertainment & artfully done.
JANA
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