I was debating what title to give this particular post as a review of the newly released 'Far from the madding crowd' and came up with the above because I could not think of one word to combine the two main elements in the story, mainly Self Discover and Destiny: Destcovery?) Those were the prominent notions within the film, at least from my point of view.
Although I haven't reread the book for quite a while and therefore cannot comment on how close the adaptation is to the written work, I am certain that the main story line, plot and characters, adhere quite closely to the originals.
The story is filmed beautifully and the pace is neither fast nor slow, with enough passive natural scenery to depict the setting but balanced out with strong active character dialogue to move the plot along; dialogue which isn't overdone or underdone in my opinion.
The main character is well portrayed as the independent, strong minded but somewhat emotionally naive young woman who is trying to make a name for herself in the world at a time where women were struggling to be seen as successful in business and outside a domestic setting.
She is intelligent but somehow emotionally naive in that she is yet to discover what love could really mean to her. This is crux of the plot as she is in conflict with herself about which of the three men to be with and how to come to terms with her own conflicting and growing personality.
She is both feminine and strong, clever and innocent, resigned and uncertain.
The three men almost reflect or represent the many sides of her own mind: firstly, there is the rich wise and more experienced suitor, a land owner at a time of his life where if he finds the right woman would want to settle down and who becomes almost obsessed with having her because somehow he cannot. Then we find the impulsive, reckless young soldier who loses his true love and is looking for a replacement and who finds beauty and desire in her. Finally we have the truly good, kind, humble hard working man who seems to her initially as unable to tame her nature, but who in fact is the strongest and most well rounded balanced character of the three because he understands her fully, accepts her for who she is and wants her happiness even if it is not with him. He keeps his calm throughout and supports her during her time of need.
These three reflect her own mind in a way: the recklessness in her, the side of her looking for security and experience and finally her true heart which she discovers gradually through loving the humble farm hand and because of his unconditional and genuine selfless understanding and love for her.
He makes her discover her true self because he sees her as she is and not as he thinks she is; not as an accessory nor merely as an extension of his male ego created simply to fulfil his needs and requirements.
The plot thickens and unwinds beautifully as her relationships are tested and as she discovers whom she truly is and what she wants in life but this discovery is also aided by the hand of Fate as the one man who is made for her lets her go simply caring for her from a distance, only for both of them to discover at the end that their destinies are tied and that circumstances brought them together despite their seemingly conflicted lives and the roles of other people in it.
As he stands by her and treats all her suitors with integrity, honesty and respect he is rightly rewarded with her loyalty in the end. It is a path they both had to walk separately but in parallel to one another in order to be together ultimately.
Believing in Destiny maybe difficult for some but self discovery is universally recognised as an important right of passage for any human being. Surely that in itself is a path drawn out quite solidly for most of us, and during our journey towards self discovery we end up somehow where we are meant to be. We are tested and given our fair desserts in the end even if we do not always understand the journey. Letting go is one of the hardest things to achieve but if we are lucky to be able to do so, we find contentment, peace ,and walk our true path in life with those who are at the same level of spiritual growth and who have arrived at a similar stage of life to share it with us.
Far from the madding crowd, we ultimately each in our own time discover who we are, what we truly want and who will be there to share it with us.
Although I haven't reread the book for quite a while and therefore cannot comment on how close the adaptation is to the written work, I am certain that the main story line, plot and characters, adhere quite closely to the originals.
The story is filmed beautifully and the pace is neither fast nor slow, with enough passive natural scenery to depict the setting but balanced out with strong active character dialogue to move the plot along; dialogue which isn't overdone or underdone in my opinion.
The main character is well portrayed as the independent, strong minded but somewhat emotionally naive young woman who is trying to make a name for herself in the world at a time where women were struggling to be seen as successful in business and outside a domestic setting.
She is intelligent but somehow emotionally naive in that she is yet to discover what love could really mean to her. This is crux of the plot as she is in conflict with herself about which of the three men to be with and how to come to terms with her own conflicting and growing personality.
She is both feminine and strong, clever and innocent, resigned and uncertain.
The three men almost reflect or represent the many sides of her own mind: firstly, there is the rich wise and more experienced suitor, a land owner at a time of his life where if he finds the right woman would want to settle down and who becomes almost obsessed with having her because somehow he cannot. Then we find the impulsive, reckless young soldier who loses his true love and is looking for a replacement and who finds beauty and desire in her. Finally we have the truly good, kind, humble hard working man who seems to her initially as unable to tame her nature, but who in fact is the strongest and most well rounded balanced character of the three because he understands her fully, accepts her for who she is and wants her happiness even if it is not with him. He keeps his calm throughout and supports her during her time of need.
These three reflect her own mind in a way: the recklessness in her, the side of her looking for security and experience and finally her true heart which she discovers gradually through loving the humble farm hand and because of his unconditional and genuine selfless understanding and love for her.
He makes her discover her true self because he sees her as she is and not as he thinks she is; not as an accessory nor merely as an extension of his male ego created simply to fulfil his needs and requirements.
The plot thickens and unwinds beautifully as her relationships are tested and as she discovers whom she truly is and what she wants in life but this discovery is also aided by the hand of Fate as the one man who is made for her lets her go simply caring for her from a distance, only for both of them to discover at the end that their destinies are tied and that circumstances brought them together despite their seemingly conflicted lives and the roles of other people in it.
As he stands by her and treats all her suitors with integrity, honesty and respect he is rightly rewarded with her loyalty in the end. It is a path they both had to walk separately but in parallel to one another in order to be together ultimately.
Believing in Destiny maybe difficult for some but self discovery is universally recognised as an important right of passage for any human being. Surely that in itself is a path drawn out quite solidly for most of us, and during our journey towards self discovery we end up somehow where we are meant to be. We are tested and given our fair desserts in the end even if we do not always understand the journey. Letting go is one of the hardest things to achieve but if we are lucky to be able to do so, we find contentment, peace ,and walk our true path in life with those who are at the same level of spiritual growth and who have arrived at a similar stage of life to share it with us.
Far from the madding crowd, we ultimately each in our own time discover who we are, what we truly want and who will be there to share it with us.
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