The lead actress ruined the movie for me

It was all of those regimented years at Lowood.

Read the book and you'll see/understand why she changed from passionate and fierce to stoic. I had seen the film a really long time ago, but just recently I've started reading the book and I'm about halfway through and it's the same with the character in the book.

Somehow you missed the beauty of Charlotte's portrayal. After eight years at an oppressive institution, an institution that does not care whether its girls live or die, Jane develops a strength and a vision of wanting to live, and simply staying alive. Her strength of purpose was her desire to live, her beauty was wanting to live correctly as well as stay alive. Jane Eayre wanted little out of life but to do her duty as she saw it, and Ms G. portrays that well, yet allows us to see that Jane has a warmth, a passion beneath that exterior. She is proud of her strength and her creative genius, and yet she's defensive and on her guard, as any poverty-stricken person would be in a house of nobility. The feelings that develope between her and Mr. Rochester cannot be shouted about in that restrictive Victorian society, and yet they are there and as real as those that are freely expressed in a more open society. Gainesbourg does the subtle things which make us aware of her feelings: her look in the mirror when she calls herself a fool, her anger at him "How can you be so stupid?! How can you be so cruel!? I may be unattractive, but I have feelings!" Jane Eayre is a plain Jane, in a society that does not value her, so what does she have? Charlotte brings it home: The woman she portrays has grace, courage, spirit and a strong sense of duty. Perhaps you were looking for her to be someone else. Wooden, yes. Oppressed people often appear wooden. It a means of survival, in a world of hard, sometimes cruel people more powerful than she. When she finally cries out, she indicates what's been going on underneath that woodenness. I thought Gainesbourg did that wonderfully.

As this film was my first exposure to the concept of Jane Eyre, I liked it. After reading the book and ruminating over the whole thing for a couple of years, I've decided that the movie still isn't that bad. It does have its faults (no repartee, blandness, etc). Overall though, it doesn't wholly miss the essence of the book.

I did NOT like Charlotte's portayal at all. Zelah Clarke's performance in the 1986 BBC version sets the standard for me (she was wonderful, IMO) - she was subdued, but still retained that spark of will that gave life to the character.
There was just NOTHING in Charlotte's eyes that I could see, except a "woe is me" look that I wanted to slap off her face every 2 seconds!

I actually liked William Hurts portrayal in this movie. Rochester in the book is moody, yes, but in a mercurial way. He's eccentric. I think Hurt did a fine job.



"Two minds. One thought. Only half a wit."

I agree. I went into this adaptation with an open mind, really I did, but I just cannot bring myself to like Charlotte or William. I realize that Jane is supposed to be quiet, wise, constrained, but for heaven's sake, she said she was "not without feelings," why didn't she act like it? Subdued Jane Eyre was, but she wasn't mechanical! Goodness, there is feeling in the character of Jane Eyre- passion even! If there wasn't then she would've married St. John and lived her life as a missionary's wife. Beneath Jane's exterior she was sensitive, but Charlotte was robotic... she smiled what, three times? Cried once? Sort of? When she asked Edward how he was so cruel and stupid I finally felt as if she was really getting a true grasp of the character, but then she immediately slipped back into this 100% passive state of blah... And as for Hurt, his moments of desperation verged on the humorous at times! When his wedding was interrupted his reaction almost made me life, and I feel fairly certain that is not the reaction that was supposed to be evoked by that scene.
I don't know. The adaptation wasn't awful, but I wasn't a huge fan. I just finished watching the 2006 miniseries, and I suppose they spoiled me. All the passion that was lacking in this version I found in that one.

I LOVED this version specifically for Charlotte Gainsbourg's portrayal of Jane Eyre. It was beautiful. I even bought the DVD !

I understand your point about the change in emotionality between the little girl and the adult Jane Eyre, but I think those who have read the book said it's explained more in text than on screen.

-Jane (not Eyre)

I disagree...Charlotte portrayed the development of her character pretty well...and she has a great presence.