Director Cary Fukunaga’s (Sin Nombre) version of Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre marks the 16th motion picture version of this tale of a “small, obscure, plain and little” governess.

I have seen 7 films/TV versions (2 film versions, 3 mini-series and 1 TV-movie) of this oft-told tale and one Broadway musical version (don’t laugh -it was actually really good).

Stepping into the shoes of the title role is hot-in-demand actress Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland, The Kids are Alright) and she absolutely shines in the title role.

Now having seen this tale told many times, I have come to expect certain things from different versions and this one did have it all: a good cast, faithful to the book, beautiful scenery, fiery chemistry between Jane and Rochester and a good score.

However, while watching this version, I couldn’t help but compare it to the most recent version of Jane Eyre, the excellent 2006 BBC version that starred Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens. When I did that then this version was just okay. But if I compared it to the last film version, which was Franco Zeffirelli’s 1996 version and 1944’s Orson Welles version then this version is the best film version I have ever seen.

What I liked what Fukunaga and screenplay writer Moira Buffini has done is open up the film with Jane fleeing from Thornfield after her attempted marriage to Rochester and her journey that brings her to St.John Rivers (an appropriately cold Jamie Bell) and his sisters Mary (Tamzin Merchant) and Diana (Holliday Grainger). Fans of the book will know that this sequence takes part in the latter third of the novel. Usually in film versions this part of the story gets short-shrift so it was interesting to have it interweave as they set up the film as Jane having a flashback to her childhood and her romance with Mr. Rochester (Michael Fassbender).

The childhood scenes also usually get edited down in all version whether mini-series or film so it wasn’t too surprising for that to happen here. However, Sally Hawkins as Jane’s Aunt Reed was appropriately cold to Jane. Simon McBurney was also great as the self-righteous Mr. Brocklehurst.

To me Jane Eyre really starts when Jane arrives at Thornfield Hall to begin her life as governess to Mr. Rochester’s ward, Adele Varens. And that is the heart of all versions of this story. This is where Jane Eyre for the first time in her life has lived a full-life where she hasn’t been trampled on and treated as an equal.

Wasikowska and Fassbender had great chemistry together and matches the chemistry that I saw between Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens’ in the 2006 version. The chemistry is most apparent in the scene where after Jane saves Rochester after the fire, you see longing in their faces and their faces almost touching wanting to kiss. And their proposal scene, while short, was still quite romantic.

There is one thing that Wasikowska has brought to Jane that I haven’t seen in any version is that we can see Jane and her isolation. It was mentioned a lot of the times of Jane being alone and you really do see that in her performance. As well, you see who Jane truly is in Wasikowska’s performance, a true feminist. A woman who sasses back to a mother-figure, stands-up to her morals with Rochester and also rejecting a marriage proposal because she isn’t in love with that person.

Like with the 2006 version there is no narration to tell the tale and everything Jane feels is in her face. There is a scene in the school room with Adele, where Jane is trying to teach geography, you see her hands tremble, it is a clear indication to the audience that she has fallen in love with Rochester and it is in that moment, she is yearning for his return and at the same time wondering if he feels that same way and feeling foolish for having such thoughts.

Fassbender was good at Rochester. You can see him fall in love with Jane and you can see his pained past in his face and how he desperately wants to escape it so he can find happiness with Jane but near the end he had this straggly beard that made him look like Joaquin Phoenix from I’m Still Here.

The end was short too, I wanted a better reunion scene for Jane and Rochester but I have to realize that this is a film version and can never truly have everything that a mini-series can bring.

After seeing this version, I will rank this Jane Eyre number two on my list as the best versions that I’ve seen behind the 2006 version. What makes it #2 is Wasikowska and her amazing chemistry with Fassbender.

Visit my old blog site for my views of Jane Eyre and the 2006 version here and here.

Here is the trailer: