The 2011 drama “Jane Eyre” from Focus Features was directed by Cary Fukunaga with the screenplay written by Moira Buffini based on the classic novel by Charlotte Brontë. Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Jamie Bell, Judi Dench, Romy Settbon Moore, Sally Hawkins, Tamzin Merchant, Holliday Grainger and Imogen Poots.
Jane Erye (Mia Wasikowska) enters the Rochester household as a governess for the young Adele Varens (Romy Settbon Moore) at the isolated Thornfield Hall folllowing a tumultuous childhood as an orphan. She was taken in by her paternal uncle John Reed (Craig Roberts) and his family at Gateshead Hall.
Unfortunately Reed dies shortly after her arrival and she was left in the care of the servants. But Mrs. Reed (Sally Hawkins) resented her presence, locking her in the room where her uncle had died overnight. Traumatized by the experience, Jane suffers a nervous breakdown and the attending doctor advises Jane’s aunt to send her to a school. Lowood Asylum was chosen by the family and this proved to be only an extension of her experiences while living with the Reed family.
Because Lowood Asylum was a charity institution, the daily goods and food quality were sub-standard, leading to chronic hunger. Medical attention was also poor and Jane survive the typhoid plague at the school, bringing much needed reform to the standard of living. Eventually Jane became a teacher, developing her artistic talents which led to her employment by Mrs. Fairfax (Judi Dench), the housekeeper of Thornfield Hall.
Edward Rochester (Michael Fassbender) the mysterious man of the house, engages Jane in intellectual sparring on various occasions. Jane is quite content in her role as governess, but as time progresses finds herself becoming more attracted to Rochester, but knowing that he is courting Blanche Ingram (Imogen Poots) puts her feelings aside.
Eventually, on Midsumer’s Eve, Edward confesses his love for Jane. Yet Jane is aware that Edward is hiding something from her and although she loves him when she discovers his secret she flees Thornfield.
Jane is taken in by three kind strangers; Diana (Holliday Grainger), Mary (Tamzin Merchant) and St. John Rivers (Jamie Bell) who arrange for her to be a teacher of a new school. In time, Jane discovers that she has inherited a small fortune from her uncle and shares this with them to repay their kindness.
However St. Johns has deeper affections for Jane and asks her to marry him. But Jane realizes that she still loves Edward and must return to Thornfield and confront him about his secret.
