Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Ogosmith Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Kayden This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

rsternesq I think that there seem to be some confusion expressed in a number of the reviews of this and a subsequent version of Jean Rhys' most famous novel. Just for information:1. Creole does not necessarily imply mixed race. Bertha (to use Rochester's name for her) was clearly white enough to appear white and indeed, like Jean Rhys herself, may have been entirely of European ancestry. The mixed race brother, Daniel, was black on his mother's side which has nothing to do with Bertha's mother being mostly/entirely French. He was angry and destructive because his father preferred the white daughter to him.2. The Wide Sargosso Sea is a sort of prequel but it is also a re-imagining of the back story for Jane Eyre that is intended to take Bertha's character and expand on it with Rhys inability to ever fully reconcile herself to the differences between her origins and life in Europe.3. While we think of the Caribbean as a dominantly black environment, the origins were Carib Indian and whites colonized the area before the introduction of African slaves. The racial undertone is a more modern view than Bronte likely had. She was trying to deal with the whole idea of foreignness/strangeness and the ultimate solution to the plight of Jane's situation, poor but of "gentle" birth.4. Of the two filmed versions, the first makes the characters too physically attractive and really misses the novel's stress on the protagonists never meshing rather than loving and losing love.5. One problem with the casting of Rochester in the first version is that the actor portraying Rochester is distractingly gorgeous and not sufficiently British (apart from his accent). In fact he looks like he rather fits in, in contrast to Bertha's uncle and the other European planters. Of course, the actress who portrays Bertha, even at the end, is so enticing that Rochester's loss of interest is inexplicable.6. The first film seems to run out of time and rushes the end. Not enough is made of Rochester's anger at being manipulated, whether by voodoo, drugs or circumstances. Once he becomes his father's heir, the return to England should have led to something other than the conclusion. There is definitely insufficient deterioration in Bertha. Their stories are mirror images. He deteriorates and is miserable where she is able to live and she deteriorates where he is able to live.7. The novels (both Jane Eyre and The Wide Sargosso Sea) have a great deal of narration which is lost in the earlier film and perhaps insufficient in the second. None of the films are substitutes for the books but all are interesting reimaginings.8. In order to appreciate the Rhys novel, one should read about the author. The same is true of Jane Eyre and its author. The more things change, the more they stay the same.Finally, while not great, the films both aspire to be literary, which means a lot in an age when filmmakers think there is a need for horror/splatter movies and lots of people apparently agree so I for one say thank you for both versions of the Wide Sargosso Sea and all of the versions of Jane Eyre that offer relief from the current tripe.

scorpio1386 I think reading the book helps the viewer appreciate the movie. The movie is a pretty faithful adaptation to the novel. The movie tells the story of the crazy wife in the attic in Jane Eyre. Not only does it tell her story, but it gives an entirely believable explanation for her insanity. Not only is the scenery beautiful, but the story is as well. Set in Jamaica during colonial times, we see a young woman grow up in a unique society. It is easy to sympathize with the multi-layered characters. Karina Lombard is a great choice to play Antoinette. There isn't that much to the story, at least not in the way of events. The story is deep, though. It's definitely worth a watch, and if you can spare an afternoon, read the book- it's very short.

scrooge Back when this movie came out, I read reviews which said how powerful and erotic it was. I finally found the video in a bargain bin and bought it. I found the movie to be a real mismash, with many elements that weren't fully explained. The scenery was wonderful, and one or two of the characters put in good performances, but the two leads were wooden throughout. I was unable to feel empathy for either character. The much touted erotic scenes were not developed, and lacked much enthusiasm. I haven't read Jane Eyre, and maybe this movie tries to explain a few things which happen in that book, but on the whole it seemed contrived, and lacked any real passion. I was disappointed, and certainly won't be keeping my copy of the video. It's going into the trash.

withnail-1 Man, this was a weird one. i appreciated the location shots and thanked god this wasn't shot on a sound stage somewhere in London. still, a confused piece of work that leaves many unanswered questions. the idea is that Jamaica, like the emblematic Sargosso sea, will tangle you up and pull you into it. and it's true: once there europeans lose themselves in the foreign culture, the exotic landscape and in taboo love.still, something was missing from the mix. the fact that the film only exists to fill in a few gaps from Jane Eyre (explaining where one character came from) explains a lot. the author would have done better by making a stand-alone film.Lombard is great in her role which is quite difficult to pull off. a creole french woman seduced by voodoo is a tough one to pull off without looking ridiculous, but she manages it quite well.