Review: Far From The Madding Crowd

There are some stories that filmmakers can't get enough of, returning to them over and over, and it seems that FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD is one of them. Perhaps it is because it is a love story, or perhaps it is because it attempts a progressive look at its female protagonist; or perhaps people just really like Victorian England. A new adaptation of the Thomas Hardy novel has just been made; directed by Thomas Vinterberg, whose last film, THE HUNT, scored an Oscar nomination, the film is an unpolished gem -- it contains a lot of beauty, but certain qualities still cause it to be dull.



Carey Mulligan plays Bathsheba Everdene, the self-proclaimed independent woman in Victorian England whose name elicits the biblical idea of desire -- an idea that is very present in the story. Beginning the tale with little wealth to speak of and living with her aunt, she is approached by the quiet-natured, dependable shepherd, Gabriel Oak (Matthias Schoenaerts), who asks her to marry him -- but she rejects his proposal, stating that she has no need for a husband. However, their situations quickly become reversed: a rogue sheepdog puts Gabriel's flock in ruins, leaving him with nothing, at the same time that Bathsheba inherits a farm from her uncle. Bathsheba takes Gabriel in to shepherd her flock, and begins her new life as proprietor. But as stated before, such a strong-headed, independent woman attracts many suitors, and soon a neighboring farmer, William Boldwood (Michael Sheen) offers to give her security in marriage. And not too long after that, the reckless Sergeant Francis Troy (Tom Sturridge), whose main artillery is his charm, comes into the picture as a suitor.

The plot is not too dissimilar to any other love story from this era, so I will instead focus on the artistry put into the film. Cinematographer Charlotte Bruus Christenson transforms every scene into a painting, with gorgeous landscapes and artful imagery. The acting is also superb -- it should be noted that Mulligan never gives a dull performance, and Schoenaerts is also a delight.

The plot was somewhat lacking. Having not read the book, this is where my expertise falls short, but while many different events unfold, they do not flow together -- and our protagonist remains passive throughout the majority of it. By this I mean that Bathsheba never really has to make any serious decisions... she just kind of stumbles through the events, saying she will decide, but letting the conflicts that arise decide for her. In fact, really the only big decision she makes is a decision not in line with her character whatsoever -- which she even admits to later in the story. Ultimately, the story is supposed to be about choosing between three suitors (or choosing to remain independent), but most of her decision-making process involves waiting for the suitors to remove themselves from the picture.

But it is a beautiful film, and for those who love period pieces, it is well worth the watch. FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD is now playing at the Midtown Cinema!