BBC Jane Eyre review, part 1

I'm watching this in instalments with shanith, so, in instalments come reviews.

I should preface this by saying that while I had high hopes for this production (being an adaptation of my most beloved novel), I did not expect them to be met. Partly this is because the two that I have seen failed to really move me. William Hurt and Charlotte Gainsbourg didn't have time to do much, and Timothy Dalton and Zelah Clarke seemed a little period piece by numbers. Besides, is it really possible to 'do' such a story in film? I think most adaptations of novels struggle when it comes to internalities, and falling in love is perhaps one of the most profoundly internal processes. Sure, Andrew Davies did a good job for Elizabeth and Darcy with lingering, smouldering glances, as well as contemplative mirror gazing. But then, P&P is a story of appearances, albeit deceptive ones. Jane Eyre is a story of, well, we'll get to that. But a first person narrative, the first person narrative of a reserved person, this is a difficult thing to film. How can this be done?

( very minor spoilers beneath )