Every artist has their muse. For the poet John Keats, it was the love of his short life, Fanny Brawne.
The 2009 film Bright Star is the story of the short, but passionate relationship between John Keats (Ben Whishaw) and Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish). Fanny is seen as a pretentious flirt who flouts the current fashion by making her own clothes and speaks of subjects that she knows nothing about. John is trying to build up a writing career, but is insecure in his abilities. A mild flirtation is the start of this relationship, but John’s good friend Mr. Brown (Paul Schneider) will do almost anything to keep this couple apart. But fate has other plans….
This movie squarely lands in the romantic drama category. As one of the greatest poets of his era and our era, this movie radiates with the poetry of its subject and the sad fact that John Keats died that the young of 25, not knowing that his work would live long beyond his short years on Earth.
I recommend it. I also recommend that a box of kleenex is nearby. It’s one of those movies.
