Charting the final years of 19th-century romantic poet John Keats (solid Brit actor Ben Whishaw, who's come a long way from being slapped about in Nathan Barley) as seen through the eyes of the love of his life, Fanny Brawne (a stunningly good Abbie Cornish), Bright Star captures perfectly a way of life (middle-class Britain), a time and place (1818 to 1821, Hampstead Village, North London) and a feeling (undying love, against the odds) by concentrating on those small details. Some embroidery, a glance, a line in a letter, and, of course, some verse.
Kerry Fox plays the single mum trying to bring up Fanny and her two siblings, whilst next door, Paul Schneider's gruff Mr. Brown is determined to keep Fanny's mitts off his Keats.
THE VERDICT: That these lovebirds have more than shyness to contend with when it comes to expressing – never mind consummating – their love means Bright Star is no period romp. It's more like a period stroll in the park with stifled passions and tender lust. And it works wonders. Recapturing some of the meticulous attention to detail and the human spirit that made The Piano and An Angel At My Table so successful, Australian director Jane Campion here delivers her finest film in some time.
RATING: ****
Review By Paul Byrne