- Title: USA: John Keats' love affair brought to life in the film 'Bright Star'
- Date: 26th September 2009
- Summary: TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA (SEPTEMBER 13, 2009) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ABBIE CORNISH, ACTRESS WHO PLAYS FANNY BRAWNE IN "BRIGHT STAR", SAYING: "I think she just loved his zest for life, his ability to see everything and appreciate beauty both big and small, light and dark. There was such a real tangible quality to Keats that I think she may have dreamt about but never encountered."
- Embargoed: 11th October 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVA5ST98YEMXBGQFYDFWPL9TVUMC
- Story Text: British poet John Keats fell in love only once and that affair is chronicled in the new movie "Bright Star".
British poet John Keats died at the age of 25 poor and broken-hearted. It was only after his death that his work was recognized and his life studied. A new movie called "Bright Star" named after one of his sonnets looks at the tumultuous and passionate relationship between he and the love of his life Fanny Brawne.
Australian actress Abbie Cornish, who plays Fanny, explained what her character loved about the young poet.
"I think she just loved his zest for life, his ability to see everything and appreciate beauty both big and small, light and dark," she said. "There was such a real tangible quality to Keats that I think she may have dreamt about but never encountered."
Keats was indeed a highly emotional man, for better or worse. He was often described as being kind to a fault. His sensitivity both fueled his work and tortured his soul. In his letters, he described Fanny as a minx, a woman who used her sexuality and femininity to her advantage. His jealousy over Fanny's flirtation caused him extreme physical and emotional anxiety.
"The more I read about him and the more I read his letters I just thought he was a great - not only a great poet but a great human being," said Ben Whishaw who plays Keats. "He had a kind of - he had qualities that a person can aspire to. I mean he was sensitive but strong, which is I think the most beautiful combination of things."
The movie was directed by Jane Campion, who also made "The Portrait of a Lady" and "Holy Smoke". She had taken a four year hiatus from filmmaking to spend time with her daughter and reassess her life before directing "Bright Star". It was after reading a book about the relationship between Keats and Brawne that she decided to return to film. She said she was "blown away" by the purity and innocence of their love affair. It was a real life Romeo and Juliet, she said.
Though the story takes place in the early 19th Century, it still resonates today, she said.
"I think it's a great story for today in the sense that - you know I think what everybody is looking for - I see it amongst young people I know, they want connection and they want profound connection," she said. "They don't just want sex, I don't think. They want everything."
Playing the revered Keats was slightly daunting for Whishaw but with Campion's support he felt confident in resurrecting him on the big screen, he said.
"But I wasn't too worried actually just because I felt like I really grew such love for him myself and Jane and I talked about it and we just said to each other we just gotta trust in our love for this person - that will carry us through," he said.
Viewers can see Keats brought back to life in "Bright Star" which has already hit screens in New Zealand and is opening in the theatres around the world this Fall. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None