A Woman Of Means Story Of Love And Longing In Old England
By Alan Samuel
Deep down inside we all crave attention. And love. Lost in a struggle for her heart is a young impressionable lady in Far from the Madding Crowd. Based on the classic novel this upbeat period drama from Fox Searchlight Pictures is inflaming hearts at The Fifth Avenue Cinemas.
Patience can be habit forming. In the case of one Bathsheba Everdene a will to wait for love leads to unparalleled consequences for a host of eager young and not so young men. Born to play the part of a simple farm girl chosen for better things is consummate actress Carey Mulligan (An Education). New to the English townships in the mid 1800s Ms. Everdene undergoes quite the transformation when she comes into some money.
Blessed with good looks and an improved bank account stately suitors quickly come a calling. Resistant to change and impervious to love notwithstanding our poor little rich girl must contend with three totally diverse gents who all want her tender fresh hand albeit honed by working on various farms.
Gabriel Oak, William Boldwood and Sergeant Troy all carry the XX chromosome but that’s where their similarity ends – and the pressures build on our wise behind her years but unproven in worldly affairs of the heart damsel in distress. Different personalities conveyed by strong performances from Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Sheen (Frost/Nixon) and Tom Sturridge (Pirate Radio) burn up the screen and create a major blockage in both mind and heart for Bathsheba. Poor little rich girl.
Dreamy shots of the English countryside mesh well with the pain and sorrow of a Girl trying to cope with too many diverse and unwanted lovers. How things all sort themselves out is miraculously revealed under the smart eye of director Thomas Vinterberg (The Hunt).
Live the dream and fall madly in love with Ms. Mulligan and her eligible suitors once again.
