Thank you for telling me about this one, Neems! Bright Star. had me from the very first stitch. (In the opening scene, Fanny Brawne, played by Abbie Cornish, is weaving an intricate piece of embroidery).
This movie is based on the true story of the love between Frances Brawne (Fanny) and the famous romantic poet John Keats. The actual words from the poems and letters that Keats wrote way back in the 1800's to Fanny are used throughout the movie.
Though at first, Fanny almost seems to dislike Keats, it doesn't take long for her to become intrigued by his writing, by his creativity and ideas. And she wants to learn from him.
Their relation
ship quickly goes from one of teacher and student to deep, devotional love. It's a beautiful, innocent, but very intense love. And soon, it becomes almost obsessive. The young couple can't seem to live without one another. But with their different social and economic backgrounds, as well as the fact that Keats becomes very ill, both their families separate decide that it is best for Keats to go away.
ship quickly goes from one of teacher and student to deep, devotional love. It's a beautiful, innocent, but very intense love. And soon, it becomes almost obsessive. The young couple can't seem to live without one another. But with their different social and economic backgrounds, as well as the fact that Keats becomes very ill, both their families separate decide that it is best for Keats to go away. Separated from her love, Fanny locks herself in her room, first collecting butterflies in the hope that her love will soon return. But as time goes on without him
, the butterflies soon die, and so does Fanny's spirit. She no longer enjoys anything she did in the past, and Keats' is the only thing that she seems to want.
, the butterflies soon die, and so does Fanny's spirit. She no longer enjoys anything she did in the past, and Keats' is the only thing that she seems to want.Sadly, Keats dies of turberculosis at the very early age of 25. But what seems even more tragici is that he never knew what an amazing talent and writer he was during his liftetime. In fact, as the afternote in the movie reveals, Keats often thought himself a failure and was often criticized for his work by his peers. If only he could have known that hundreds of years later, he is revered and admired, and that his 
writing inspires and moves us today. If only he knew the everlasting power of his words and his hard work...
writing inspires and moves us today. If only he knew the everlasting power of his words and his hard work...John Keats was a genius. And this movie was a great reminder of tha
t. I can't wait to delve back into my Romantic Poetry notes from university, and to reread Keats' works, especially the letters he wrote to Fanny.
t. I can't wait to delve back into my Romantic Poetry notes from university, and to reread Keats' works, especially the letters he wrote to Fanny. Bright Star
by John Keats
Bright star. Would I were stedfast as thou art--
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night
And watching with eternal lids apart,
Like nature's patient, sleepless Eremite.
The moving waters at their priestlike task
Of pure ablution round earth's human shores.
Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors--
No--yet still stedfast, still unchangeable,
Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast.
To feel forever its soft fall and swell,
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath.
And so live ever-- or else swoon to death.
