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'To Walk Invisible' - BBC Biopic on The Bronte sisters (December)


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Old 29-12-2016, 23:13
nethwen
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Villette is IMO the best Brontë book, a true masterpiece. It always irritates me that Jane Eyre gets all the attention and Villette is ignored. Anyone who hasn't read it yet, please do, I guarantee you'll remember it long after you've read it.

As for the programme, I enjoyed it. The accents were maybe a bit much and Charlotte seemed to be permanently cross and/or worried, but I feel it did give a window into the life of this extraordinary family who were on the surface pretty ordinary. Branwell couldn't be described as ordinary, I suppose, but there's always one, isn't there? I can't help wondering what he might have done if he hadn't turned to drink, he might have written something wonderful too, but we'll never know now.
Branwell was the artist in the family.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branwe...AB_sisters.png

I think he wrote some poetry too.
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Old 29-12-2016, 23:13
stargazer61
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I certainly couldn't. In fact I only lasted barely ten minutes watching it. I turned it down to start with because the music and Branwell shouting but when two of the sisters started talking they were whispering and I couldn't make out what they were saying and had to turn the volume up on the telly. Then after I did Branwell started to shout again and said "fu*k" and seriously saying using that word back then and in the parsonage I hardly think he would have said that so I switched off! Shame because I was looking forward to it.
Except it has been in the English language since c1500
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Old 29-12-2016, 23:14
nethwen
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Jane Eyre is my most favourite book.
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Old 29-12-2016, 23:29
Granny McSmith
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I couldn't help but notice Branwell's Death of Chatterton's pose there.
Thanks nethwen - I recognised it but couldn't think what it reminded me of.



I nearly didn't watch it because I thought it would be a bit of a downer, but I'm glad I did.

Seems odd to see Haworth without all the touristy shops. We usually visit before Christmas and buy gifts at the apothecary's shop (it's just down he road from where I used to live). I wonder how long it took them to film.

I liked the accents, but suspect in reality they'd have spoken a bit posher.

For anyone commenting on their brusqueness - they were from Yorkshire!
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Old 29-12-2016, 23:31
mrbernay
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Thanks nethwen - I recognised it but couldn't think what it reminded me of.



I nearly didn't watch it because I thought it would be a bit of a downer, but I'm glad I did.

Seems odd to see Haworth without all the touristy shops. We usually visit before Christmas and buy gifts at the apothecary's shop (it's just down he road from where I used to live). I wonder how long it took them to film.

I liked the accents, but suspect in reality they'd have spoken a bit posher.

For anyone commenting on their brusqueness - they were from Yorkshire!
The father would have had an Ulster twang, which he didn't. The children were all born in Bradford and went to ordinary schools... so they would have had a local accent
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Old 29-12-2016, 23:38
Bob_Whinger
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I certainly couldn't. In fact I only lasted barely ten minutes watching it. I turned it down to start with because the music and Branwell shouting but when two of the sisters started talking they were whispering and I couldn't make out what they were saying and had to turn the volume up on the telly. Then after I did Branwell started to shout again and said "fu*k" and seriously saying using that word back then and in the parsonage I hardly think he would have said that so I switched off! Shame because I was looking forward to it.
Maybe try it again with subtitles turned on. If they are selling it abroad they will have to put subtitles on.
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Old 29-12-2016, 23:39
Cobblers
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I'm normally positive about BBC costume dramas but I thought that this was rubbish. All about the brother and 20mins about the girls.
Not great at all, in my opinion, of course.
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Old 29-12-2016, 23:51
mrbernay
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I'm normally positive about BBC costume dramas but I thought that this was rubbish. All about the brother and 20mins about the girls.
Not great at all, in my opinion, of course.
I still think my interpretation of the title is valid. Branwell was "invisible". Nobody could see how traumatised he was. The sisters were only interested in promoting themselves, and the father was too busy to see what was happening to his son. Lots of parallels in life today...
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Old 30-12-2016, 00:01
Granny McSmith
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I still think my interpretation of the title is valid. Branwell was "invisible". Nobody could see how traumatised he was. The sisters were only interested in promoting themselves, and the father was too busy to see what was happening to his son. Lots of parallels in life today...
I think everyone could see how traumatised he was. They all tried to help him, but he was determined to sink into self pity, loudly and aggressively.

Emily used the phrase to walk invisible about herself and her sisters having to disguise their sex.
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Old 30-12-2016, 00:05
Artygill
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We lasted about half an hour but found it dull in the extreme. We had to resort to subtitles too as there was so much mumbling and whispering from the start.
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Old 30-12-2016, 00:06
Horza's Drone
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The second half was better and, like others, it's made me want to revisit the novels.
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Old 30-12-2016, 00:06
Amethyzt
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How come their father is so posh?

He was a clever man. Went to Cambridge and got a BA
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Old 30-12-2016, 00:09
Amethyzt
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The second half was better and, like others, it's made me want to revisit the novels.

I agree. Glad I persevered with it...even though I thought the actresses didn't match... I know Charlotte was tiny compared to her sisters but she didn't look right.....and Emily didn't look right either, but the actress did produce something of the more brusque nature of Emily.
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Old 30-12-2016, 00:23
Dimsie
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WH gets all the attention due to all the movie adaptations.
Not just WH, but JE as well. I'd love to see a movie or tv series of Villette, but seems no one is interested in doing one these days. I've read there was a tv adaptation of Villette some years ago, but it's not available now. It would be a difficult book to dramatise in some ways, so much of it is Lucy ruminating about this or that, but with the right people playing Lucy and Paul it could be very good.
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Old 30-12-2016, 00:29
Bob_Whinger
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I agree there was a bit too much about Branwell and more could have been made about the collaborative nature of their writing.

I thought the actresses did look remarkably like the sisters in the only painting of them. I am glad I watched the drama and learned a lot I did not know.
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Old 30-12-2016, 01:24
Kittygodfree
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I really enjoyed it. I think it was possibly a fairly accurate portrayal of how their lives may have been. They were not wealthy, had to find a way of earning momey and were in direct competition with each other. They may well have had Yorkshire accents as they were not upper class. The only thing that didnt ring true was Emily saying that Branwell had 'trashed the place' ,it sounded too modern, but otherwise it was very good.
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Old 30-12-2016, 08:34
alan29
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There was no recording equipment back then so we have no idea of how one particular family would have spoken.
Have downloaded Wuthering Heights as my first Bronte book as a result of watching it.
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Old 30-12-2016, 08:51
Marispiper
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Jane Eyre is my most favourite book.
Also Winston Churchill's I believe.
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Old 30-12-2016, 09:23
BobtheBold
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I was fearful when saw it was a sally special and switched off after 10 mins,just too depressing,another shouting match with a feisty lady ,no thanks .
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Old 30-12-2016, 11:03
cliveb2005
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Seems odd to see Haworth without all the touristy shops. We usually visit before Christmas and buy gifts at the apothecary's shop (it's just down he road from where I used to live). I wonder how long it took them to film.
Have a look here:
http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-...sisters-filmed
Fascinating the lengths they go to in recreating the olden times.

Really enjoyed the programme.
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Old 30-12-2016, 11:09
Amethyzt
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Have a look here:
http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-...sisters-filmed
Fascinating the lengths they go to in recreating the olden times.

Really enjoyed the programme.

Thanks for the link Clive. They really did a very good job with this reconstruction and the interiors.
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Old 30-12-2016, 11:13
Amethyzt
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Not sure if this link will come through clearly, but this is the portrait of Emily ( done by Branwell ) that I always relate to when I think of Emily.....pretty and petite.



https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=em...o2fqG_bMEMM%3A
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Old 30-12-2016, 11:35
Granny McSmith
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I agree there was a bit too much about Branwell and more could have been made about the collaborative nature of their writing.

I thought the actresses did look remarkably like the sisters in the only painting of them. I am glad I watched the drama and learned a lot I did not know.
They looked just as I have always imagined them. Obviously you, I, and the casting director share a similar vision of the Bronte sisters.
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Old 30-12-2016, 11:40
Granny McSmith
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Have a look here:
http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-...sisters-filmed
Fascinating the lengths they go to in recreating the olden times.

Really enjoyed the programme.
Thanks for posting that. I knew it couldn't be the real Parsonage that was filmed - the exterior is so different - but didn't imagine they'd built a new one.
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Old 30-12-2016, 17:34
tim123
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Have never read any Bronte.
This makes me want to.
they're girlie books

I accept that they are classics, but I've no desire to read one

tim
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