Thomas Hardy's 19th century novel Far from the Madding Crowd is considered a classic, and yet
probably not the book he's most known for. However, his feminist icon Bathsheba
Everdeen is perhaps his most intriguing creation (Tess of the d'Urbervilles is
up there too) a woman of uncommon strength and independence hoping to carve her
place in a man's world. And yet the story is unabashedly a romance, as pure and
hopeful as they come. It seems like an odd fit for Danish director Thomas
Vinterberg, best known for gut-wrenching moral dramas like The Hunt and The Celebration, but he's
barely changed a thing from Hardy's source material and the film is all the
better for it.
With Carey Mulligan's recent
statements on the pervasive sexism in Hollywood she's becoming a leader in the
feminist movement herself, and she makes for the perfect Bathsheba. She has a
unique ability to find contemporary and classic truths in her characters,
connecting us to her in ways few actresses can hope. Set in Hardy's favorite
locale, his fictional Wessex of 1870s England, all windswept hills and robust
farms, the story follows the many attempted loves of Bathsheba, a headstrong
woman who values her independence above all else. While not as physically
hearty as the other women working on the estate, her striking beauty catches
the attention of stoic shepherd, Gabriel Oak. A few fleeting glances later and
he's already asking for her hand in marriage. To be perfectly honest, the
choosings are pretty slim on both sides, but she still rejects his proposal
stating flatly “I don’t want a husband. I’d hate to be somebody’s
property.” By her own admission, Bathsheba is a woman needing to be tamed, and
Gabriel's promises of a normal, secure life aren't going to light her fire.
When Gabriel loses everything in a freak
accident involving sheep walking off a cliff (it sounds like a joke but is
pretty horrific) while Bathsheba inherits a sprawling estate, the power
structure flips as suddenly as their fortunes. Now she's in charge and looking
to survive in a field dominated by men, where women are expected to be quiet,
subservient, and naturally give everything they own to their husbands. And there
are no shortage of suitors to court Bathsheba, both of which she comes to
regret for different reasons. There's the rich yet passionless William Boldwood
(Michael Sheen) who falls for Bathsheba after she sends an ill-advised
Valentine's card. More frightful is young soldier Francis Troy (Tom Sturridge),
a disreputable sort who steals Bathsheba's heart with sheer charisma. The ardor
she feels for him would come to blind her to his true nature, leading to
tragedy and turmoil.
While many will cite the 1967 Julie
Christie-led adaptation as the standard, Vinterberg's proves superior from a
technical aspect and in the veracity of its lead performance. Mulligan is a
more believable Bathsheba than Christie, capturing her mercurial nature and
stalwart stubbornness. She remains a likable character throughout all of her
encounters with the opposite sex, whether she's regretfully leading Boldwood
along (he's somewhat pathetic) or falling head-over-heels in lust with Troy.
There are times when you simply want to shake some sense into her, (Troy is
eternally punchable), but you always want to see her end up happy. And through
it all the passion continues to simmer between her and Gabriel, manifesting in
furtive glances, friendly barbs, and a respect that transcends the social
structure dividing them.
Vinterberg glories in the beauty of the
rolling hills of the countryside, aided by breath-taking cinematography by
frequent collaborator Charlotte Bruus Christensen. It's not often we get to see
a female DP but for a project like this it's a perfect fit, subtly capturing
Mulligan's beauty and fierceness. David Nicholl's screenplay does everything
the 1967 film doesn't, namely hitting all of the story's major beats and themes
efficiently, without taking itself too seriously. This Far from the Madding Crowd isn't another stuffy period piece; it
knows how to have a little fun while exploring issues of class and gender. This
is a classic story told with genuine craft, and featuring a truly great
performance by Carey Mulligan. Think of it as the perfect escape from the Avengers: Age of Ultron craziness this weekend.
Rating: 4 out of 5
