The BBC has made a significant addition to its streaming platform, iPlayer, by releasing the 2022 biographical drama 'Emily' for free viewing. This strategic move comes just days before the highly anticipated cinematic release of a new blockbuster adaptation of Emily Brontë's only novel, Wuthering Heights.
A Beautifully Imagined Portrait of a Literary Enigma
Directed by Frances O'Connor, 'Emily' offers a part-fictionalised, visually stunning exploration of the life of one of England's most celebrated yet mysterious authors. Starring Emma Mackey in the titular role, the film delves into the solitary world of Brontë, who published under the pen name Ellis Bell and is best known for her gothic masterpiece.
Creative Liberties and Critical Acclaim
With little concrete historical information available about Brontë's private life—she was famously reclusive and died of tuberculosis at just 30—the film takes creative licence to construct its narrative. This includes portraying a fictional romantic relationship with the young curate William Weightman, played by Oliver Jackson-Cohen.
Despite these fictional elements, the drama has been met with widespread critical praise. It currently holds an impressive 87% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The critics' consensus highlights the film's 'bracingly irreverent approach' and Mackey's vibrant portrayal, noting it 'manages to feel true while taking entertaining creative liberties.'
Reviews have been effusive in their admiration:
- IndieWire described it as 'a ravishing period drama that plays fast and loose with the facts' to capture the emotional heart of Brontë's work.
- ScreenRant praised it as 'a striking depiction of a woman embracing her individuality while crafting an iconic piece of literature.'
- The Independent appreciated its 'great buoyancy and humour,' avoiding a miserabilist tone.
- Metro called it 'ravishing to the eye' with 'sublime' cinematography, likening it to ambitious Brontë fan fiction.
Director's Vision and Modern Resonance
In interviews, director Frances O'Connor has been clear that 'Emily' is not a strict historical biopic. 'I've taken inspiration from certain elements from Wuthering Heights, and also the biographies that I read, and put those pieces together to create a narrative, which is not a biopic. It's more like its own thing,' she explained.
O'Connor also highlighted the modern relatability of Brontë's character, suggesting she suffered from what we would now recognise as social anxiety. 'She struggled with her sense of who she was, and her relationship with her sisters feels very real,' the director noted, connecting the 19th-century author to contemporary audiences.
Timing with a Major New Adaptation
The BBC's decision to stream 'Emily' is perfectly timed. Later this week, director Emerald Fennell's new adaptation of Wuthering Heights—starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as Catherine and Heathcliff—is set to hit cinemas across the UK and Ireland. This provides viewers with a unique opportunity to explore the author's life and context immediately before experiencing a fresh take on her seminal work.
The film 'Emily' also features performances by Fionn Whitehead, Alexandra Dowling, and Adrian Dunbar. It remains a poignant tribute to a writer whose second novel, hinted at by her publisher, was never completed or found.
With 'Emily' now available on BBC iPlayer, audiences can immerse themselves in this acclaimed dramatisation for free, gaining deeper insight into the enigmatic mind behind one of English literature's greatest novels just as its story returns to the big screen.
