Analysis of Bright Star (2009)
Hi ! Today's article will be about the movie produced in 2009 by Jane Campion, Bright Star. It tells the story of the intrepid poet John Keats and the audacious Fanny Brawnes, two souls that will meet up unexpectedly.
As the movie is long and full of important scenes, we decided to focus our observation on three extracts.
I. A Room of Butterflies
This scene takes place in Fanny's room. There is a lot of movement with the mother opening the door and all the flying butterflies. The scene is full of vivid colours, with the diversity of butterflies that have the same colours as Toots and Fanny's dresses.
It is overwhelmed by light, which gives life to the room, as if it were alive. The scene follows the rythm of the butterfly wings's beating, and a nostalgic dimension begins along with the music.
There are a lot of close up shots focused on butterflies, which draw the spectator's attention on those delicate insects. At the same time, Fanny vindicates their presence to her mother by saying they are the proof her world is real.
However, despite the poetic vision, those butterflies remain that life and light are ephemeral : in the next scene, few days passed and they were all dead. Thus it shows that no matter how many time you live, you have to enjoy all the things that life offers you.
II. The First Kiss
The scene starts off with Fanny Brawne and Mr. Keats wandering in the forest, probably around midday. The colours are mostly green, brown or white and the atmosphere is very peaceful.
However Mrs. Brawne stands out with her red striped dress and her straw hat. Mr. Keats speaks charmingly about his last dream and begins its description: “I was floating above the trees with my lips connected to those of a beautiful figure for what seemed like an age, flowery treetrops (...)”
Then they sit down. Mrs. Brawne asks whose figure he is referring to. Mr Keats does not answer and the camera comes closer to both of their faces. Suddently, they kiss each other. It's a noticeably slow kiss, almost hesitant. As they go on the camera's angle changes and focuses more on Mr Keats. It seems as if his dream has become reality. It is a serendipity that the person he is kissing is dressed in red, the colour of love, and that the one from his dream was also his beloved. It suggests that it was Mrs. Brawne from the start. This scene achieves to show the close link between nature, poetry and destiny.
III. The Bright Star Poem
In this medium shot, Fanny Brawne and Mr Keats are sitting of the couch. Mr. Keats is laying his head on Mrs. Brawne's breasts and their hands are intertwined.
Mrs. Brawne seems quite anxious whereas Mr. Keats has his eyes closed and appears to feel safe with her. The mix of emotions is disturbing; this shot shows every sign of the inevitability of what is going to happen next in the film. Indeed, the darkness of the scene, Mrs. Brawne's facial expression and Mr. Keats' position of inferiority alludes to the end of the film. (We shall not spoil but we can only say that it does not end how we wished it would have).
We can conclude that poetry allows people to gather and to fullfill the daily void. According to Fanny, this is a way to escape from reality and to create another world in which she could feel alive. Words have a power that enables them to carry several emotions and overcome any obstacles such as distance.
