Emily: An imagined life of Emily Bronte, setting out events which might have inspired her to write Wuthering Heights. Emily (Emma Mackey) has a torrid affair with her father's young curate, William Weightman (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) she is also led astray by her brother Branwell (Fionn Whitehead) who introduces her to alcohol and opium. Emily suffered from social anxiety so these drugs may have been a crutch for her, Mackey puts in a powerful performance, ranging from gloom and downcast eyes to ecstasy and then determination as Emily seeks fulfilment in literary endeavours. She wanders the moors like Cathy seeking Heathcliffe. Her sister Charlotte (Alexandra Dowling) always seems at odds with Emily, yet is also caring when Emily breaks down at school, she also vies Weightman's attentions and seems to be inspired (out of jealousy) at Emily's achievements to write Jane Eyre, Adrian Dunbar is the Patriarch of the Bronte household and channels Supt Hastings rather than DI Ridley with his fearsome sermons from the pulpit, fortunately he doesn't sing. The gray dark skies (the rain puts Angela's Ashes to shame) and starkly beautiful Yorkshire moors and heaths are also stars in this narrative. A sombre scene is captured during a game of charades when Emily dons a mask and transforms the amusements into a seance. A wonderful tale brought to life by Frances O'Connor who Wrote and Directed the film. 8.5/10.
