MOVIE REVIEW: The Invisible Woman

Shane | 16 April 2014 | Reply

MOVIE REVIEW: The Invisible Woman
Directed by Ralph Fiennes
Starring Ralph Fiennes, Felicity Jones, Kirsten Scott Thomas
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
7.5/10

We can’t help who we fall in love with, and sometimes we’ll compromise all of our expectations, ideals and standards for that love.

The Invisible Woman is the terribly sad story of the young Nelly Ternan, born into a family of professional actors without much talent in the family trade.

After being hired, with her mother and one sister, to perform in Charles Dickens’ The Frozen Deep in Manchester, the shy teenager slowly develops a connection with the very famous, garrulous and extroverted author, who develops a far quicker infatuation. Dickens slowly beguiles the somewhat starstruck and disillusioned girl.

What happens next is hard to explain without spoilers, but suffice to say that the title of the film refers to their long-term affair, which the already married Dickens and his friends and family kept her a complete secret for the rest of his days, and in fact, while all ten of his children were alive.

There is consolation for her though, in finding happiness after the much-older Dickens’ death, even if that happiness lacks the passion and even some of the love of her first affair.

Ralph Fiennes directs as well stars, bringing admirable fragility and humanity to the central characters, whilst also showing how similarly judgemental today’s society can be to that of 150 years ago.