Old British period dramas just do it for me. From the elegance, to the restraint, down to the way everything is said without actually being said sits right with me. Films like this one are my go-tos when I’m in my quiet, reflective mood.?
Synopsis
Set in early 20th-century England and Italy, the film follows Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter), a young woman traveling through Florence with her strict cousin and chaperone, Charlotte Bartlett (Maggie Smith). While there, Lucy encounters the unconventional George Emerson (Julian Sands) and his free-spirited father, who challenge everything she’s been taught about propriety, class, and emotion.
After returning to England, Lucy becomes engaged to the well-mannered but emotionally rigid Cecil Vyse (Daniel Day-Lewis), a man who fits perfectly into her social world, at least on paper. But when George reappears, Lucy is forced to confront her true feelings and decide whether to follow the expectations placed on her or her own heart.
My Review and Rating
One thing about films made in the 80s is that they really don’t aim to impress you with loud drama or big twists. Instead, whatever you wish to see just unfolds and if you’re patient with it, it really draws you in.
Initially, I chose to watch this film for the purpose of just enjoying the aesthetic, the scenery, costumes and the whole old world feel. But then I started noticing the emotional tension underneath everything, and that’s when it clicked for me.
Lucy and George’s connection is one of those you feel it before they say it kind of romances. It’s not overly theatrical but it’s there. You notice it in the way they look at each other, the moments they share, and their unspoken words but it can be frustrating. This is because Lucy spends so much time trying to fit into what’s expected of her instead of just admitting what she feels. I think it’s frustrating considering the difference in time as in this age, parents don’t really dictate lifestyles for their kids anymore. But at the same time, you can try to understand why. The world she lived in doesn’t exactly make it easy for a woman to choose herself.
Lucy as a character is interesting because she’s not bold in the obvious way. She’s polite, and very much shaped by her environment. But deep down, there’s a part of her that wants more feeling, more freedom, and more honesty. She striked me as the same character of Louisa in Charles Dickens’s Hard Times.
Watching her struggle between what she should want and what she actually feels was honestly one of the most compelling parts of the film.
Cecil on the other hand, represents everything proper, controlled, intellectual and socially acceptable and George is just the opposite. He’s emotional, spontaneous and a little chaotic even. Now the contrast between these males is so clear that you’re just sitting there begging Lucy to not choose wrong.
Beyond the romance, this film is really about breaking free. Breaking free from rigid social expectations, emotional repression and the fear of being judged.
Finally, this film is quaint plus it’s the kind of film that doesn’t overwhelm you but slowly settles into your mind. It actually made me feel calm and then slightly frustrated and then satisfied too in the end. That’s a good mix if you ask me.
Rating: 8/10