Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art—

Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night

And watching, with eternal lids apart,

Like nature’s patient, sleepless Eremite….

-John Keats

The Jane Austen Club recently went on an outing to Plaza Frontenac to see the movie “Bright Star.” The movie is based on the relationship between the Romantic poet John Keats, played by Ben Whishaw, and lover Fanny Brawne, played by Abbie Cornish. Jane Austen Club sponsor Emily Grady and President Taylor Stone thought that the film accurately depicted the chaste love of Keats and Brawne, and that the director precisely reflected the setting and domestic life of the 1800s.

Sophomore Anna Williams also enjoyed the movie.

“’Bright Star’ was amazing,” Williams said. “It was really sad in the end, but I think the whole storyline was really genuine. They did a very good job of conveying the love between John Keats and Fanny.”

Sophomore Xiaoya Wu agreed.

“I thought ‘Bright Star’ was a really good film,” Wu said. “You don’t see tragic endings anymore.”

The tragic event was John Keats’ death. This was an unusual ending, but it was hinted at many times after Keats contracted tuberculosis. According to freshman Ellie Gund, the best part was the scene when Fanny discovered Keats had died, even though it was a very sad scene.

“The emotions expressed by the actors were very raw and real,” Gund said.

Junior Becca Steinberg felt the movie had some strong and weak points.

“It was a very romantic movie,” Steinberg said. “It was very enjoyable, but at times the plot tended to drag a little bit.”

Grady thought that the film was excellent.

“I loved the movie,” Grady said. “It’s hard not to like a movie about John Keats – his poetry is so beautiful. The film represented his poetry wonderfully. Since Keats is a Romantic poet, the film was appropriately romantic as well.”

Gund had neutral feelings about the artistry of the movie.

“The directing was good,” Gund said. “However, at times, an obviously modern element would be visible. This distracted me slightly from the overall atmosphere of the movie.”

The Jane Austen Club went to see the movie because Jane Austen and Keats lived during around the same time period. The costumes seemed realistic and authentic to most of the members of the Jane Austen Club.

“The acting was very convincing,” Steinberg said. “I liked how they focused on what looked the most real, rather than what made the actors look the prettiest.”

Grady also liked Cornish’s performance.

“I think Fanny seemed so real to the audience, like a contemporary girl,” said Grady. “She was a vibrant and emotional character.”

Stone thought the actors were cast well.

“I thought the strongest actress was Cornish,” Stone said. “She was extremely convincing. Ben Wishaw was also appropriately cast. He delved into the complexity of the poet’s personality and sadness in a convincing way.”

The romantic film was worth seeing, according to Jane Austen club members.

Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,

And so live ever – or else swoon to death.

– John Keats