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The Invisible Woman is Fiennes’ foray into period drama

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- The largely unknown story of Charles Dickens’ long-standing affair offers Ralph Fiennes the chance to try the costume drama form on for size.

The Invisible Woman is Fiennes’ foray into period drama

Following up on his modern-times re-imagining of William Shakespeare’s Coriolanus, veteran thespian turned director Ralph Fiennes goes down a completely different path with his sophomore feature. Based on Claire Tomalin’s biography by the same name, The Invisible Woman [+see also:
trailer
interview: Ralph Fiennes
film profile
]
is Fiennes’ exploration of the period drama as a narrative form.

The film follows Nelly Ternan (Felicity Jones), as she copes to safeguard the secret of the true nature of her acquaintance with the great British scribe. Having spent years establishing herself as an actress during her youth, we meet her as a married woman, part-time director of children’s plays and adamant evangelist of Charles Dickens’ literary legacy. However, hidden behind her stony features and fidgety physique, lies the story of a hidden and forbidden love that haunts her still.

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Jumping between 1885 and a few decades back, Fiennes unravels the story of how Charles Dickens (Ralph Fiennes) met, was enchanted by and plucked Nelly from her mothers harbouring arms, his tale of love and secrets weaving the film’s central dramatic arc. Though sentiments are more hinted at than they are expressed, the bond that develops between the two characters fills up the screen, whether its two protagonists are on or off it.

Covered in sepia tones and hushed emotional undercurrents, Fiennes’ work gives out the feel of a student’s film thesis, his framework and angle management taking over the energy and pathos he exhibited in his directorial debut. Nonetheless, his directorial merits feel more measured and assured, his film peppered with shots of unquestionable beauty.

Though his behind-the-camera work may be toned down, his rendition of Dickens as a love-stricken genius is nothing if not humane and relatable and while he chivalrously turns the spotlight on Felicity Jones’ composed performance, Joanna Scanlan’s scene-stealing appearances strongly embody the era’s cruelty upon the house-contained nature of Victorian women.

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