Jane Eyre | |
---|---|
DVD cover
|
|
Genre | Costume drama |
Written by |
Sandy Welch Charlotte Brontë (novel) |
Directed by | Susanna White |
Starring |
Ruth Wilson Toby Stephens Cosima Littlewood Georgie Henley Tara Fitzgerald Pam Ferris Claudia Coulter Christina Cole |
Theme music composer | Rob Lane |
Country of origin | United Kingdom France |
Original language(s) | English French |
No. of series | 1 |
No. of episodes | 4 |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) | Phillippa Giles Rebecca Eaton |
Producer(s) | Diederick Santer |
Cinematography | Mike Eley |
Editor(s) | Jason Krasucki |
Running time | 240 minutes |
Production company(s) | WGBH Productions for BBC |
Release | |
Original network | BBC One |
Picture format | 16:9 1080i |
Audio format | Stereo |
Original release | 24 September | – 15 October 2006
Jane Eyre is a 2006 television adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's 1847 novel of the same name. The story, which has been the subject of numerous television and film adaptations, is based on the life of the orphaned title character. This four-part BBC television drama serial adaptation was broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One.
The mini-series is generally considered a successful adaptation, garnering critical acclaim and a number of prestigious nominations from various award bodies.
In this version of Charlotte Brontë's novel, Jane Eyre as a young girl (Georgie Henley) is raised as a poor relation in the household of her aunt, Mrs. Reed (Tara Fitzgerald). As a young woman (Ruth Wilson), Jane is hired by the housekeeper of Thornfield Hall, Mrs. Fairfax, to be a governess for young Adele (Cosima Littlewood). The owner of the estate is Mr. Rochester (Toby Stephens), who is courting the beautiful Blanche Ingram (Christina Cole).
After the death of her uncle, the orphaned child Jane Eyre is left to the care of her uncaring and cruel aunt Mrs Reed. In their house at Gateshead Hall, Jane is ill-treated by her cousins and aunt alike and never feels at home. After one of many ill-treatments she is accused of being bad blood and in an attempt to get rid of her, Jane is sent to Lowood School by her aunt Mrs Reed. Like Gateshead Hall, Lowood School is a cold institution. Jane’s only friend dies and she is left alone once again. Resolving to become independent, she takes on the profession of a governess.
At 18 she is able to secure a position as governess to a girl at Thornfield Hall. Here Jane learns that her pupil Adele, a French girl, was left in the care of the master of the house, Edward Rochester. She is also informed that the master of the house is seldom at home. On one of his journeys back to Thornfield Hall, Jane at last meets Rochester.