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REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP
Our rating: 4 out of 5 Because of: mild sensuality Rated:
Having a familiarity with the field of psychology, I have always found morality plays fascinating. If you delight in thought-provoking films with careful layers of morality and virtue, Daniel Deronda will be just your cup of tea. In addition to being a magnificent piece from a purely artistic perspective (the gowns, horse-drawn carriages, and exquisite English countryside will stir the hearts of even the most ardent modernist), it also offers a magnitude of ideal conversation starters. The miniseries is based on the classic novel by George Eliot, and is essentially two plots woven into one. We are first introduced to the beautiful Gwendolyn (Romola Garai, Nicholas Nickleby) at the gaming tables, where she carelessly loses a fortune in roulette. She also briefly catches the eye of a handsome young man but denies her friend's offer to introduce them. He is not like young men in general, she remarks with a smile.
Taken several months back in time, we observe Gwendolen at the height of society. All the young men of the county, wealthy and impoverished alike, are in love with her. But as Gwendolen confesses, she has "not the nature to love" and does not particularly like any of them. Among her suitors is the imperial Grandcourt (Hugh Bonneville,), a wealthy squire with a mysterious past. His predatory nature has drawn him to the ravishing beauty and he intends to "master" her. Gwendolen also feels a strong attraction to his financial stability but shrinks away when a terrible secret from his past comes to light. After fleeing to Germany and the gaming tables, she is informed her family has lost their fortune and she must return as soon as possible to England.
In his search for Mirah's family, Daniel will come to desire information of his own history. Journeying into the Jewish community of London, he instead finds a mysterious man by the name of Mordecai who believes Daniel has been "chosen" to help his people. In the meantime, unable to submit to the humility of becoming a governess, Gwendolen instead allows herself to become swayed by Grandcourt's lavish attentions. Their engagement is announced but his intentions are sinister. Eventually our spoiled heroine will come to learn that life's choices demand consequences. The two storylines combine into one for a powerful, thought-provoking conclusion with a labyrinth of opportunity for discussion. From rationalizing and defending one's wrong choices to showing the difference between attraction and subtle, strong love, Daniel Deronda is a gem not merely for its beauty but also its hideousness.
The filmmakers have created a tasteful film that deals with many heavy subjects without becoming vulgar or crass. Too many movies go too far in showing us the bane of life; this one does it with modesty and integrity. We're aware Grandcourt sexually abuses his wife but only through the intensity in the scenes between them. There's virtually no sexual content, very little violence, and only mild profanity common to period pieces of this genre. Still, some elements are worth noting. Grandcourt is overly fond of sensuously kissing his wife's neck in an act of intimidation. On their wedding night, after she's become hysterical over the contents of a letter, he slides his hand into the neckline of her gown before she pulls away from him. (He then drags her into the bedroom and shuts the door.) There is some talk of mistresses. Gwendolen befriends Daniel after her marriage and some of their scenes together obviously contain attraction, but thankfully neither ever submit to even a kiss. Gwendolen often shows varying amounts of cleavage in her gowns (and is shown briefly in an extremely low-cut corset).
Other Reviewers: by Beth Feaker
In a time of Victorian fashions and high-society shooting parties, when the greatest accomplishment of a man was having been born into a fortune, and women would rather marry villains than stoop to the rank of a governess, a young man came into their world and found he was entirely dissatisfied with it. His name was Daniel Deronda. The adopted son of a wealthy man, he was sent to England’s finest colleges from an early age only to come home with the hope that somehow, there must be more to the world than dead languages and parlor etiquette. That begins his search for the higher things in life and the secrets that lay hidden in his childhood.
On the road to finding out who he is, Daniel meets the beautiful Gwendolen Harleth. He is immediately struck with her beauty and drawn by the despair that lurks behind her flawless face. What he does not know is that her family, once wealthy and independent, have fallen into hopeless poverty, and her only choice now is to marry a rich man or face the embarrassment of life as a governess. She has been proposed to by one of England’s richest men, Mr. Grandcourt. Intending to accept him even though he is far older and she is not in love, her plans are thwarted when she is informed that he has three children from a former mistress and her marriage to him will destroy their happiness forever. As she struggles between doing right and making a way for herself in the world, she finds Daniel a soul-mate and the one source of comfort in her calloused life.
Then as Daniel is boating on the Thames one day, he rescues a young woman who was trying to drown herself. She is a young Jewess named Mirah, she has come to England in vain search of her long-missing mother and brother, and believes Daniel was sent by God to prevent her from throwing her life away. Daniel takes her to live with his friends, and discovers that she is possessed of a beautiful singing voice. Meanwhile Gwendolen has stifled her conscience and agreed to marry Grandcourt. But the day after she marries him she receives a note from his former mistress, condemning her for destroying the lives of her children and marrying a man with a withered heart. Grandcourt soon proves to have just that, a heart murdered by his greed and ruthless thirst to make Gwendolen his slave. She is trapped with no escape, and her feelings and thoughts fly even more to Daniel, who grieves for her plight and offers her his heart and friendship.
Daniel Deronda in one word: fabulous. If you like costume dramas, beautiful movies or powerful acting, you will fall in love with it. And if the sight of a period movie makes you sick, you will still identify with the characters and learn valuable lessons that are woven subtly throughout the story. Written by George Elliot (alias for Mary Anne Evans), I was impressed by the depth she brought to an otherwise simple storyline, and the ability of the movie makers and actors to carry that depth across the screen. I think all four of the leading actors deserved Oscars, as every one of their movements were captivating yet believable, and imported you right into the scenes with them.
Above all, Daniel Deronda is never dragged down by impurity or a bitter view of the world. It tells the story of hardships and love in a way as truthful as it is pure. After their marriage Gwendolen and Grandcourt have a “tension” between them, but the only time we hear them speak of it is when Gwendolen asks him to “not come to her bed” that night, and he retorts that he will be coming. We see her crying afterward, but it’s very tastefully done. On their wedding night, it's implied he forces her to sleep with him. There is no violence and only general mild profanity, but much reverence to goodness, being kind to others, and respecting God gives flavor to the script. The costumes are gorgeous, and the filming and landscape alone are eye candy! If you like movies of this genre, watch it today. And if you never have liked them before, I doubt you’ll regret giving Daniel Deronda a chance.
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DANIEL
DERONDA
Pawning her
necklace, Gwendolen is touched by the compassion of a stranger, who
returns it to her with a note not to be so careless as to lose it again.
Daniel Deronda (Hugh Dancy) is the ward of Sir Hugo, Grandcourt's wealthy
uncle. Many suspect Daniel to be Hugo's illegitimate son. He was the
figure to observe her at the roulette tables, and finds her a "Van
Dyke duchess of a beauty." A man of a kind heart and wonderful
sensibilities, Daniel becomes a savior to a young Jewish girl by saving
her from drowning. Mirah Lapidoth (Jodhi May) is a consummate singer with
a traumatic past. She was kidnapped by her father at a young age and
forced to perform on the stage for money until her father's scheming
became too much to bear. She has returned to London in the hopes of being
reunited with her long lost mother and older brother.
The premise of
the film is basically positive toward the Jewish culture but lacks one of
the book's most Christian passages of dialogue. Still, it's rare to see a
respect toward any form of faith, particularly from the liberal BBC
production company. The costuming is absolutely gorgeous and there's not a
weak link in the cast, which includes such well-known actresses as Barbara
Hershey and Gretta Sacci. Fans of other period films will recognize actors
from 
Daniel is now further in his quest of self-discovery, for as he
helps Mirah search for her parents he inadvertently stumbles across
more secrets from his own heritage. And as he spends more time
growing to know Mirah, his thoughts of her steal into emotions that
conflict with the deep feelings he has for Gwendolen. Gwendolen is
his ideal of the beautiful, confident woman who needs his help, but
Mirah is all the purity and sweetness he has dreamt of in the mother
he wished he knew. Little does he know that this is all leading up
to the dramatic climax of all of their hopes and destinies…