Jane Eyre - Parents Movie Review

movie review rating guide for parents and families

MPAA Rating
PG-13

for some thematic elements including a nude image and brief violent content

Genre
Drama

Director
Cary Joji Fukunaga

Starring
Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Jamie Bell, Judi Dench, Holliday Grainger

Studio
Focus Features

Release Date/In Theaters
03/11/2011

Movie Summary

Charlotte Bronte's classic romantic novel, Jane Eyre, is brought to life by director Cary Fukunaga. Jane Eyre works as a governess at Thornfield House for Edward Rochester, a wealthy, man with secrets. The isolated, and strict house and the emotionless Mr. Rochester forces Jane to leave the house. She is now alone and trying to determine what will become of her, haunted by Edward Rochester's secret.

Movie Review for Parents

-by Ginger

Set in Victorian England, this classic tale tells it like was. Jane Eyre comes from a childhood filled with abuse and superstition. The movie begins with the story of her childhood where she is tied, beaten, and threatened with the fires of Hell if she does not obey her taskmaster. The film is dark with supernatural elements woven throughout. Jane is fearful, lonely, and unloved. Throughout the movie, the main character is beaten, sullen, and downtrodden because she was born into the lower classes. It also deals with issues of rape and other realities of the time period, although these are only alluded to vaguely. They are still there. The imagery in the beginning of the movie is frightening.

Jane angers the Mistress of the Manor when she steps beyond class social boundaries of the time, after which she goes to a boarding school hoping for a better life than she left. This puritan-like school also turns out to be less than ideal and she leaves to strike out on her own. She seeks refuge in an English Manor. You know the ones, dark, stone, drafty and cold. Jane becomes a servant, and as was the custom of those days, her duties included the whims of the landlord. The adult themes become more evident and for this reason, this family movie review would strongly advise parents not to take their small children, or those below the age of 12. Jane must have unconsenting relations, just to give you a warning before you go.

The Master of the Manor is cold hearted and power hungry. Yet, he falls in love with Jane and she with him. This is a strict taboo. Those in different classes do not fall in love. Jane questions whether it is reality or only a dream. She must be careful not to let their secret love out, or it could endanger her life. No, not his life, only hers as he is protected by class and status to do as he wishes, even if it is unacceptable.

The MPAA rated this movie a PG-13 for brief nudity and thematic elements. I have to agree, this is not one for the smaller audience. It is a serious movie and portrays child abuse, sexual imposition, and other forms of abuse that are unacceptable now, but may have been more common in that time period. True to Victorian literary forms, the story has a supernatural element to it as well.

This drama tells it like it was in Victorian England. Class divisions create strict rules and taboos. It is a downtrodden world filled with lies, superstition, and a quest for control. This is a realistic portrayal of the time and attitudes that prevailed, including the wealthy class’s treatment of the lower classes as if they were property and nothing more, is not suitable for small children. It is a well-written historical drama and could tie in well with a high school lesson about the society during that time. For those who are old enough to understand the historical context, it could bring a deeper understanding of what life was like during that time period.