So I decided to watch the 2011 adaptation of Jane Eyre the other day. Oh man, where do I even start? This film, helmed by Cary Fukunaga, really hits different compared to the countless other adaptations of Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel. It’s like seeing an old friend in a new light, you know?

From the get-go, this version draws you in with its atmospheric cinematography. The moors are damp, foggy, and frankly, a bit depressing—but in a good way! It sets the perfect mood for the tumultuous love story that’s about to unfold. Michael Fassbender, playing Mr. Rochester, sort of blew me away. He’s intense, brooding, and makes you think “Could this guy just get a break, or what?” And Mia Wasikowska as Jane? She’s got this quiet strength that sneaks up on you.

But, being honest, the pacing sometimes feels like riding an SL bus on a snowy Stockholm night—sporadically smooth but mostly bumpy. It’s a bit of a slow burn, and, at times, I had to fight the urge to check my phone. Then again, maybe I just have the attention span of a gnat these days.

One unexpected joy was the score by Dario Marianelli. It swells at just the right moments, pulling you deeper into the story. And the costumes! Have to give props to the costume department. There’s something so satisfyingly tactile about the period clothing, like you can almost feel the stiff fabrics and heavy drapery.

Oh, and fun fact: When I was a kid, my grandma had this really old, beat-up copy of Jane Eyre. Back then, it felt like such a chore to read it. Partly ’cause it’s in this old-timey English and partly ’cause, well, I was probably 12 and more interested in playing fotboll. Watching the film now, I was flooded with memories of her cozy little cottage in Dalarna, her reading aloud in that sing-songy voice of hers. It’s funny how a film can do that to you, reconnect you with such vivid memories.

Discussing themes like isolation and the search for identity, Jane Eyre resonates, especially today when many of us feel a bit lost or adrift. There’s something universally relatable about Jane’s journey, her resilience in the face of hardship.

Check out the trailer here: Jane Eyre