I’m a big sucker for handsomely shot costume period films, so it’s little surprise that director/dop Cary Fukunaga’s adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s classic tale Jane Eyre drew me in like a moth to a flame. ( Earlier favourites include Joe Wright’s Pride and Prejudice, Jane Campion’s Bright Star, Peter Webber’s Girl With A Pearl Earring and Tom Tykwer’s Perfume, just to name a few. )

I have not read the novel in the past and as such cannot be sure if any prior understanding of the characters and storyline would have aided or hindered my appreciation of the film – perhaps folks out there who have read the book can tell me.

In Jane Eyre, a significant portion of the film takes place at night in the dark confines of the lodge, and in those days the only source of illumination were by candles, fire(place)lights and oil lamps.

The cinematographer Adriano Goldman did a brilliant job and lit the principals in pretty much the same way, lending an immediate sense of realism to the film.  The feel evokes old masters’ paintings by Georges de La Tour and Caravaggio, the undisputed master of Chiaroscuro. ( see images below )

The film’s official website has a collection of short but interesting production featurettes that you might want to check out.

Very much looking forward to studying this again on blu-ray once it’s released.