IMDb RATING
5.6/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
In 1840s Jamaica, a young female landowner marries an Englishman to keep her property. Their love blossoms, but she hides a childhood secret about her mother that threatens their relationshi... Read allIn 1840s Jamaica, a young female landowner marries an Englishman to keep her property. Their love blossoms, but she hides a childhood secret about her mother that threatens their relationship.In 1840s Jamaica, a young female landowner marries an Englishman to keep her property. Their love blossoms, but she hides a childhood secret about her mother that threatens their relationship.
Martine Beswick
- Aunt Cora
- (as Martine Beswicke)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe picture was classified and rated with a restricted NC-17 rating in the USA due to its explicit sexual content. Distributor Fine Line Features decided not to appeal the decision in order to try and gain a lower classification rating to make the movie marketable and able for younger audiences to attend. The New York Times reported "Fine Line Features, the art-film division of New Line Cinema, has accepted the rating for 'Wide Sargasso Sea (1993)' which includes male frontal nudity".
- Quotes
Edward Rochester: England seems far away.
- Alternate versionsEdited, R-rated version available on video.
Featured review
Not worth your effort.
The Wide Sargasso Sea is one of the most beautiful books ever written. Following a string of only mildly successful novels and short stories, Rhys disappeared off the radar, and many believed her dead. She was discovered years later living in seclusion on the south of England. Throughout her house were numerous manuscripts forming what became The Wide Sargasso Sea. The novel was a labour of love for Rhys in a sense, but despite the critical acclaim it received she described the success as (I paraphrase) too little too late.
Rhys' novel details the relationship between the Rochester of Jane Eyre and Antoinette, his first wife. The novel, however, is not truly about this. The true importance of the story is the oppression of Antoinette by her husband and society as a whole. She is a Creole: inherently hot blooded and passionate. Rochester cannot handle this aspect of her nature, and attempts to remove it from her but cannot; it is inherent.
The film suggests that Anotinette descends into madness. This is not what Rhys wished to demonstrate. Antoinette never went insane, but rather the anger if her treatment at the hands of Rochester drove her to an act of rashness, but not madness. In her actions at the end of the film, Antoinette is not losing control, but rather regaining it.
This is lost in the film. The beautiful story is diminished considerably. The first two sections of the novel are reduced to 10 minutes, making the whole plot seem rushed. This was, it would appear, to make was for as much gratuitous nudity as possible.
All that redeems the film (and the only reason I rated it a 3 and not a 1) is the beautiful depiction of the scenery. I suggest people who have read the book avoid the film, and those interested in both stick to the novel and stay well away from this.
Rhys' novel details the relationship between the Rochester of Jane Eyre and Antoinette, his first wife. The novel, however, is not truly about this. The true importance of the story is the oppression of Antoinette by her husband and society as a whole. She is a Creole: inherently hot blooded and passionate. Rochester cannot handle this aspect of her nature, and attempts to remove it from her but cannot; it is inherent.
The film suggests that Anotinette descends into madness. This is not what Rhys wished to demonstrate. Antoinette never went insane, but rather the anger if her treatment at the hands of Rochester drove her to an act of rashness, but not madness. In her actions at the end of the film, Antoinette is not losing control, but rather regaining it.
This is lost in the film. The beautiful story is diminished considerably. The first two sections of the novel are reduced to 10 minutes, making the whole plot seem rushed. This was, it would appear, to make was for as much gratuitous nudity as possible.
All that redeems the film (and the only reason I rated it a 3 and not a 1) is the beautiful depiction of the scenery. I suggest people who have read the book avoid the film, and those interested in both stick to the novel and stay well away from this.
helpful•246
- bring_your_own_poison
- Jun 10, 2006
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Details
Box office
- Budget
- $4,500,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $1,614,784
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $33,806
- Apr 18, 1993
- Gross worldwide
- $1,614,784
- Runtime1 hour 39 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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