CineTV Contest: Jane Eyre

Before getting into the topic, I want to send my regards to the entire community and wish each of the participants in this contest, created by @cinetv, about black and white films.

I decided to talk about Jane Eyre, an all-time classic based on the book by Charlotte Brontë.

If, like me, you enjoy love stories with a touch of darkness, suspense, secrets, and drama, you have to watch the 1943 version of Jane Eyre. It's one of those black-and-white films that, even though it's been decades since its release, remains a magnificent piece, especially to watch on a rainy night.

When you start watching it, the first thing that grabs you is the atmosphere. The corridors of Thornfield Hall, the mansion where Jane works, are gloomy and full of secrets. It gives you the feeling of a horror movie.

And the protagonists... what can I say! The choice of Orson Welles as Rochester is simply perfect. His deep voice and imposing presence fill the screen. He is not your typical heartthrob; he is a tormented man with a dark past, and Welles plays him with a mixture of arrogance and vulnerability, which makes you understand why Jane falls in love with him. He has an almost wild magnetism, and every time he appears, you find yourself waiting to see what he's going to say or do.

Joan Fontaine plays Jane Eyre, a young orphan who grew up in a boarding school after being abandoned by her aunt. She spends her adolescence there and after graduating, she stays on for a while working as a teacher, until she receives a job offer at Thornfield Hall as a governess for a young girl. Jane arrives at the mansion and is welcomed by Mrs. Fairfax, the housekeeper, and several days pass before she meets Rochester, the owner of the mansion and father of the girl.

Something chilling are the screams on some nights and banging on the walls coming from somewhere in the mansion, which simply makes your hair stand on end.

The chemistry between her and Rochester is palpable; little by little, Jane gets to know him and begins to fall in love with him. She realizes that he is no ordinary man, that he treats her with respect and values her opinions regardless of the fact that she is only a governess. Their relationship is not a fairy tale, but a love story full of thorns, discoveries, and important decisions.

Of course, like any film that condenses such a long novel, there are things that are left out. The story moves quickly, especially in the second half, and some twists that leave you breathless in the book can feel a little rushed here. Having read the book a couple of times, I noticed the absence of some moments in the film that are important to the plot.

But honestly, those details don't take away from its brilliance. The music is so haunting and epic that it gives you goosebumps.

There are several versions or adaptations of this book, but the one I liked the most is the 1943 version.

I think watching this movie in black and white is what gives it that dark, mysterious feel that grabs you from the start. The gloomy corridors of the mansion, Jane walking through those corridors, wearing a white robe and holding a candlestick, add that touch of mystery that can only be enjoyed in black and white.

Without color, the viewer's attention is focused on the faces, gestures, and dialogue.