Bright Star - a Must See!

Bright Star is a both a drama and romance.  Based on the final three years of the life of poet John Keats, it tells the story of Keats' romance with Fanny Brawne, the fashionable and flirtatious young woman who lived next door to him played by the Australian actress Abbie Cornish.  Both Cornish and Ben Whitshaw are wonderful as the star-crossed lovers whose romance is doomed due to Keats' poor health. 

Equally as good is Paul Schneider who plays Charles Armitage Brown, Keats' mentor, confidant and benefactor, who resented Brawne's role in Keats' life.

While there are only a few scenes of Keats actually writing his poetry, his poetry is used to great effect in several key scenes.

Directed by Jane Campion, and filmed by cinematographer Greig Fraser, Bright Star is, itself, a work of art.

Cornish plays Fanny brilliantly - she is a liberated soul in an unliberated era (the movie starts in 1818).