As Elle Fanning continues to thrive as one of Hollywood's best young actresses, her older sister Dakota has been struggling making the transition into more mature roles. A step in the right direction was taken last year when she replaced Saoirse Ronan in Emma Thompson's long developing period drama, Effie. The film is based on the marriage between 19th century art critic and author, John Ruskin(Greg Wise) and Effie Gray(Fanning).
Ruskin's only work of fiction, The King of the Golden River, was written for a then 12-year old Effie, whom he would later marry. However, he soon became disgusted with her for unknown reasons, and the marriage would end in annulment, without ever having been consummated.
Thompson wrote the script, with Richard Laxton(An Englishman in New York) directing. The first images of Fanning as Effie have been released, and while they don't show a whole lot, in fact they're kinda boring, but they do give us a look at the beautiful Victorian costumes. We also get a look at Thompson in the role of Lady Eastlake, another renowned critic most famous for trashing Jane Eyre, and also for being a confidante of Effie's after the annulment. No release date yet, but it's expected make the festival rounds next year...[Kinopoisk]
