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Bright Star

  • 20092009
  • PGPG
  • 1h 59m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
27K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Abbie Cornish and Ben Whishaw in Bright Star (2009)
A drama based on the three-year romance between 19th century poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne, which was cut short by Keats' untimely death at age 25.
Play trailer2:27
7 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • Romance

The three-year romance between 19th-century poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne near the end of his life.The three-year romance between 19th-century poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne near the end of his life.The three-year romance between 19th-century poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne near the end of his life.

IMDb RATING
6.9/10
27K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jane Campion
  • Writers
    • Jane Campion(screenplay)
    • Andrew Motion(biography "Keats")
  • Stars
    • Abbie Cornish
    • Ben Whishaw
    • Paul Schneider
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jane Campion
  • Writers
    • Jane Campion(screenplay)
    • Andrew Motion(biography "Keats")
  • Stars
    • Abbie Cornish
    • Ben Whishaw
    • Paul Schneider
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 120User reviews
    • 223Critic reviews
    • 81Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 16 wins & 54 nominations total

    Videos7

    Bright Star
    Trailer 2:27
    Bright Star
    A Guide to the Films of Jane Campion
    Clip 1:54
    A Guide to the Films of Jane Campion
    "Letter" from Bright Star
    Clip 1:06
    "Letter" from Bright Star
    "Valentine" from Bright Star
    Clip 0:52
    "Valentine" from Bright Star
    "Sleeping in my bed" from Bright Star
    Clip 1:02
    "Sleeping in my bed" from Bright Star
    Bright Star: Fanny in the Room with Butterflies
    Clip 1:24
    Bright Star: Fanny in the Room with Butterflies
    Bright Star: Keats and Brawne Through the Wall
    Clip 1:03
    Bright Star: Keats and Brawne Through the Wall

    Photos683

    Abbie Cornish in Bright Star (2009)
    Jane Campion in Bright Star (2009)
    Abbie Cornish in Bright Star (2009)
    Abbie Cornish in Bright Star (2009)
    Abbie Cornish and Ben Whishaw in Bright Star (2009)
    Abbie Cornish and Ben Whishaw in Bright Star (2009)
    Abbie Cornish and Ben Whishaw in Bright Star (2009)
    Ben Whishaw in Bright Star (2009)
    Abbie Cornish and Ben Whishaw in Bright Star (2009)
    Paul Schneider and Ben Whishaw in Bright Star (2009)
    Abbie Cornish in Bright Star (2009)
    Abbie Cornish and Edie Martin in Bright Star (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Abbie Cornish
    Abbie Cornish
    • Fanny Brawneas Fanny Brawne
    Ben Whishaw
    Ben Whishaw
    • John Keatsas John Keats
    Paul Schneider
    Paul Schneider
    • Mr. Brownas Mr. Brown
    Kerry Fox
    Kerry Fox
    • Mrs. Brawneas Mrs. Brawne
    Edie Martin
    Edie Martin
    • Toots Brawneas Toots Brawne
    Thomas Brodie-Sangster
    Thomas Brodie-Sangster
    • Samuelas Samuel
    Claudie Blakley
    Claudie Blakley
    • Maria Dilkeas Maria Dilke
    Gerard Monaco
    Gerard Monaco
    • Charles Dilkeas Charles Dilke
    Antonia Campbell-Hughes
    Antonia Campbell-Hughes
    • Abigailas Abigail
    Samuel Roukin
    Samuel Roukin
    • Reynoldsas Reynolds
    Amanda Hale
    Amanda Hale
    • Reynolds Sisteras Reynolds Sister
    Lucinda Raikes
    Lucinda Raikes
    • Reynolds Sisteras Reynolds Sister
    Samuel Barnett
    Samuel Barnett
    • Mr. Severnas Mr. Severn
    Jonathan Aris
    Jonathan Aris
    • Mr. Huntas Mr. Hunt
    Olly Alexander
    Olly Alexander
    • Tom Keatsas Tom Keats
    François Testory
    • Dance Masteras Dance Master
    Theresa Watson
    • Charlotteas Charlotte
    Vincent Franklin
    Vincent Franklin
    • Dr. Breeas Dr. Bree
    • Director
      • Jane Campion
    • Writers
      • Jane Campion(screenplay)
      • Andrew Motion(biography "Keats")
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    It's 1818 in Hampstead Village on the outskirts of London. Poet Charles Brown lives in one half of a house, the Dilkes family the other. Through association with the Dilkes, the fatherless Brawne family knows Mr. Brown. Mr. Brown and the Brawne's eldest daughter, Fanny, don't like each other. She thinks him arrogant and rude; he feels that she's a pretentious flirt, knowing only how to sew (admittedly well as she makes all her own fashionable clothes), and voicing opinions on subjects about which she knows nothing. Insecure struggling poet John Keats comes to live with his friend, Mr. Brown. Miss Brawne and Mr. Keats have a mutual attraction to each other, but their relationship is slow to develop, in part, since Mr. Brown does whatever he can to keep the two apart. Other obstacles face the couple, including their eventual overwhelming passion for each other clouding their view of what the other does, Mr. Keats' struggling career, which offers him little in the way of monetary security (which will lead to Mrs. Brawne not giving consent for them to marry), and health issues which had earlier taken the life of Mr. Keats' brother, Tom. —Huggo
    • reed
    • artistic creation
    • period drama
    • timeframe 1810s
    • timeframe 19th century
    • 151 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • First Love Burns Brightest
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG for thematic elements, some sensuality, brief language and incidental smoking
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      John Keats' poems used in the film are: Endymion, When I Have Fears That I May Cease to Be, The Eve of St Agnes, Ode to a Nightingale, La Belle Dame Sans Merci and Bright Star.
    • Goofs
      The large blue butterflies featured in the 'butterfly' sequence are tropical and would not have been found in Britain at that (or any other recent) time.
    • Quotes

      Fanny Brawne: I still don't know how to work out a poem.

      John Keats: A poem needs understanding through the senses. The point of diving in a lake is not immediately to swim to the shore but to be in the lake, to luxuriate in the sensation of water. You do not work the lake out, it is a experience beyond thought. Poetry soothes and emboldens the soul to accept a mystery.

      Fanny Brawne: I love mystery.

    • Crazy credits
      Ben Whishaw recites Keats' "Ode to a Nightingale" over the closing credits.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Cannes Film Festival 2009 (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      Serenade in B flat, K361, Adagio
      (1781)

      Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (as Mozart)

      Arranged by Mark Bradshaw

    User reviews120

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Beautiful in the rarest of ways
    With such high hopes for a film, a letdown is always lurking the depths of your mind, but in this case, Campion far exceeded my exceptions. Never could I have predicted the deep, meticulously crafted scenes, led so strongly by Abbie Cornish playing Fanny. The heartwrenching emotion in this movie was unlike any other; there has never been a more real portrayal of the most simplistic yet most common emotions that rule the heart. Campion went far beyond the usual "I am deeply in love; Now I am sad" and truly captured human idiosyncrasy as she delved into the illogical, irrational minds of two young and suddenly in love individuals. At times, it was almost too much to bear due to how intensely palpable the sadness was. To some, certain scenes or moments may have seemed a little longer than usual, but completely necessary is the silence, just as much as the dialogue. This film perfectly embodied how a simple, real, profound story should be told.

    If the above were not enough to drive this movie on, the aesthetics were nothing short of spectacular. Each stitch in Fanny's sewing was as beautiful as each scene in a field of lavender or room flooded with butterflies. The magnificent settings, costumes, and natural sunshine pouring into a perfectly decorated room felt not contrived, but simply like a very real dream. As the curtains in Fanny's room got caught in the breeze, it was as if you felt it cooling you down ever so slightly as her content emotion overtook your mind.

    Ben Whishaw, too, was superb: perfectly embodying the fragile, wondrous poet that was John Keats, so full of tender emotion. Fanny's younger sister was another beautiful element of this film and really stole the show in her own right with her hilarious and endearing perception of life in general. Each character and each line spoken brought something so special to the story. As much witty humor as there was aching sorrow, this movie is not one to be missed.
    helpful•141
    18
    • clementinejames
    • Sep 10, 2009

    FAQ3

    • Is "Bright Star" based on a book?
    • Does the title of the movie come from a work by Keats?
    • Is it possible to read Keats' letters to Fanny Brawne online?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 9, 2009 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Australia
      • United Kingdom
      • France
    • Official sites
      • Official site (France)
      • Official site (Japan)
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Parlak yıldız
    • Filming locations
      • Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Pathé Renn Productions
      • Screen Australia
      • BBC Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $8,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,444,637
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $189,703
      • Sep 20, 2009
    • Gross worldwide
      • $14,374,652
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 59 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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