There is so much to dissect in Emily Bronte’s classic novel Wuthering Heights that a big screen adaptation is always a challenging task.
Oscar-winning director Andrea Arnold (Wasp, Red Road, Fish Tank) seems the perfect choice to tackle this haunting, dark and twisted tale, but the result misses the mark.
Arnold focuses on the romance and tragedy of Cathy and Heathcliff, played by unknown actors Shannon Beere and Solomon Glave (pictured).
From the moment Mr Earnshaw rescues the young Heathcliff from the streets and delivers him into his “good” Christian family, the harsh weather conditions and sweeping landscapes convey the brutal sense of loneliness and isolation on the Yorkshire moors.
The stunning cinematography by Robbie Ryan is undoubtedly the strongest element of the film. What isn’t so successful is the decision to use 4:3 aspect ratio, shaky camerawork and very limited dialogue. The scenery demands a wide screen and the windswept landscapes and blustering wind noises can hold your attention only for so long. The film also gives far too much time to the early years of Cathy and Heathcliff and their time romping in the mud and around the harsh moors.
By the time we meet the affluent adult Heathcliff — played by James Howson, another unknown actor who incidentally looks nothing like Heathcliff as a child — it’s become all too difficult to connect with the characters. Cathy has retained little of her wild, youthful nature and appears bitter and tortured, having married Edgar from the always sunny “big house” nearby.
Heathcliff’s violent and tormented soul is especially difficult to sympathise with.
After zeroing-in on the ill-fated romance, the adaptation was never going to have a joyful end, but the final scenes defy the bounds of good taste. If you’re expecting a soft period piece with a fine Hollywood romance, this is not your film.
