The Invisible Woman
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Felicity Jones, Tom Hollander, Kristen Scott Thomas
Director: Ralph Fiennes
Rating: 4/5
Ralph Fiennes made his directorial debut at the beginning of 2012, and now he is back with his new film The Invisible Woman: movie that sees him direct and lead the cast list.
The movie is an adaptation of the book by Claire Tomalin and sees Abi Morgan has been this powerful screenplay.
Nelly, a happily married mother and school teacher, is haunted by her past. Her memories, provoked by remorse and guilt, take us back in time to follow the story of her relationship with Charles Dickens with whom she discovered an exciting but fragile complicity.
Dickens - famous, controlling and emotionally isolated within his success - falls for Nelly, who comes from a family of actors. The theatre is a vital arena for Dickens - a brilliant amateur actor - a man more emotionally coherent in his work, or on stage, than in life. As Nelly becomes the focus of Dickens' passion and his muse, for both of them secrecy is the price, and for Nelly a life of 'invisibility'.
Many people, and I include myself in this, will not know anything about Charles Dickens’ secret relationship – in fact Dickens was a very private man full stop – and it really is a riveting and rather emotional story.
This is a film about a young woman who falls in love with a man that can never truly be hers, and yet she remains faithful to the man that she loves – even though that does result in quite a lonely life. Felicity Jones delivers a terrific performance as Nelly: a woman that goes on to reinvent herself after Dickens’ death.
Jones is an actress who has been on the rise in recent years and this is a performance that will only continue that rise. It is a controlled performance from Jones, as Nelly is a young woman who doesn’t wear her heart on her sleeve and yet there is a real strength to her.
Ralph Fiennes is also terrific as he takes on the role of Charles Dickens: a man who really was a celebrity of the time. Fiennes does dominate any scenes that he appears in and he is powerful even in his silences.
Dickens has an interesting relationship with his wife Catherine, and it is this relationship that is the most interesting. It is not often that you see a supporting role truly shines, but that is exactly what Joanna Scanlan in the role of Catherine.
She is a woman who is facing a major heartbreak, and yet there is a sympathy and almost mothering feel between Catherine and Nelly; the scene where Catherine is forced to take a bracelet to Nelly is the perfect example. This is one of the most memorable scenes in the whole film, as there is a real understanding between these two women.
This is movie is as much about the strength and will of Nelly as it is about Dickens and it is great to see such a strong female character portrayed in such a touching manner.
The invisible Woman is beautiful period drama and Fiennes really has delivered a film that is not only well acted but also beautifully crafted.
The BF London Film Festival runs 9th – 20th October.
Tagged in BFI