Wide Sargasso Sea (1993)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

John Duigan

Writers:

Carole Angier (writer)
John Duigan (written by)

Release Date:

16 April 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A young female landowner in 1840s Jamaica marries a just-arrived Englishman to avoid losing her property...

Plot Keywords:

Female Rear Nudity | England | Female Frontal Nudity | Voodoo | Racial Prejudice

Cast

Karina Lombard	...	Antoinette Cosway
Nathaniel Parker	...	Edward Rochester
Rachel Ward	...	Annette Cosway
Michael York	...	Paul Mason
Martine Beswick	...	Aunt Cora (as Martine Beswicke)
Claudia Robinson	...	Christophene
Huw Christie Williams	...	Richard Mason
Casey Berna	...	Young Antoinette
Rowena King	...	Amelie
Ben Thomas	...	Daniel Cosway
Paul Campbell	...	Young Bull
Audbrey Pilatus	...	Drummer
Ancile Gloudon	...	Nelson
Dominic Needham	...	Pierre
Kevin Thomas	...	Benbow

MPAA:

Rated NC-17 for strong, explicit sexuality.; Rated R for strong sexuality. (edited version)

Runtime:

98 min | Spain:100 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Australia:M | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:III | UK:18 | USA:NC-17 | USA:R (edited version)

Filming Locations:

Jamaica

Company:

Laughing Kookaburra Productions

Movie Connections:

Version of Wide Sargasso Sea (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Andante

Lovely prequel to JANE EYRE

Based on Jean Rhys' 1966 novel, "Wide Sargasso Sea" is the story of Antoinette Cosway, who shows up in Charlotte Bronte's classic 1847 novel "Jane Eyre" as Rochester's first wife Bertha Mason - confused? Rhys has taken some liberties with timelines, and some names and relationships have been changed for no apparent reason. Quibbles aside, this movie stands on its own. Gorgeous Jamaican scenery, lush erotic scenes (I think I saw the uncut version) that perfectly convey Rochester and Antoinette's passion, but a sense of foreboding (for those familiar with the Bronte book, anyway). The ending is a bit abrupt, and seems rushed after the leisurely pace of the rest of the film.

Having just read Rhys' novel, I was delighted at how much of its dialogue and narrative was so faithfully adapted, and praise the screenwriters for making sense out of a rather confusing book - it jumps around in time, and is narrated by Antoinette and Rochester in turn. The movie makes the story much more clear. Excellent performances from KARINA LOMBARD(is that her real accent?) as Antoinette, NATHANIEL PARKER as Rochester, and CLAUDIA ROBINSON as Christophine (a much more sympathetic character than she appears in the book). Was also impressed with the cameos from MICHAEL YORK, RACHEL WARD and MARTINE BESWICKE.