Wuthering Heights

Couple of months back, I was browsing as usual at the Video Ezy at Siglap. I chanced upon a 1992 movie adaptation of Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte starring the incomparable Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche. I knew he would not disappoint me. I was rather apprehensive about Juliette being the capricious Cathy. I have seen quite a number of her films; The English Patient, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Chocolat and liked her performances there but she gave quite a good performance as well as the lead female and then later as her daughter.

I've watched a black and white movie version moons ago but I always have this feeling that older films lacked realism especially when it came to emotional expression; when kisses went splat (much like Japanese and Korean dramas to my great dissatisfaction!!) and tears and rage seem somewhat fake and the words somehow are too well enunciated. Don't get me wrong, I love old movies. But the 'realism' of today's films get to me more.

And many moons ago also, I came upon this song by Kate Bush on the radio, on what is now Gold FM. (Can't remember for the life of me what it was called in the late 80s. Radio 1 was it?) I had goosebumps and it sent a shiver down my spine. The shrillness of her trills evoked the madness and the darkness of the story. I fell in love with it. Take a look and listen. It may take some getting used to but enjoy anyway.