4 Period Films with Romola Garai

It’s actually a rare occasion when I see as many as four movies with the same actor/actress prominent roles. I’ve really enjoyed Romola Garai’s acting and the parts she’s played; upon considering this, I determined to do a post about it!

(This is not the order of my favorites, it’s the order of when the movies were made.)

#1: Nicholas Nickleby (2002)                                                                            

            This is based on a Charles Dickens novel about a determined young man whose father dies when he is nineteen, and as he is unable to immediately support them, he, his mother, and his sister go to London, hoping for assistance from their cold, sarcastic, and stingy rich uncle.             

            Romola’s role is Nicholas’ younger sister, sweet and gentle Kate Nickleby. Her uncle finds her employment at a dress shop, while Nicholas is hired as a schoolmaster elsewhere. Her uncle does not provide any assistance when his fellow businessmen behave very un-gentleman-like towards her, one case more serious than the rest; in fact, her uncle even seems to encourage it. Nicholas finds out about her troubles and returns to London, finds a good office position, and without the assistance of their villainous uncle, supports his family as well as Smike, a teen-aged crippled boy who had been treated very badly at the school where Nicholas had taught for a short time.

            Two people fall in love with Kate during the course of the movie – and she marries one of them in the end, at a double wedding with Nicholas and his bride.

            For a collection of screencaps of Romola Garai as Kate Nickleby, please visit this link.

   And here is a fun TRAILER for Nicholas Nickleby.

How I like the movie in general: I think it’s very good! Although it has some deep and sometimes distressing themes (such as a school where the boys are mistreated), it maintains a cheerful and bright feeling. It has an interesting assortment of actors, some of which are American.

Notes

-This is the 2nd movie I saw Romola Garai in.

-Kate is not a main character, but she has a prominent role.

#2: Daniel Deronda (2002)

(Based on the novel by George Eliot)

     These first two movies (this one is actually a mini-series) were made in 2002 and are about young men whose first names start with the same letter as their last name; but as to the characters Romola Garai plays in them, they are so different they could be called opposites – one is kind and considerate, the other is selfish and rather snobby.

     (Note: this summary gives some of the story away, but not much you don’t find out before the first half of the movie, or from reading the back of the DVD case.)

      20-year-old Gwendolen Harleth thinks the world revolves around her. She’s beautiful, clever enough, and fairly talented, with enough money to dress herself up. She certainly doesn’t mind attracting the men, even though she is only planning to “send them packing.” She thinks herself incapable of much affection and is not inclined to marry – although marrying for money does occur to her when she finds a rich man who seems interested, but she finds out he has an infamous past…that still affects the present and the future. It is not until her family loses money that she turns her mind back to Mr. Grandcourt; she will do anything rather than bear the degradation of becoming a governess.

     While she is still engaged, she becomes acquainted with Daniel Deronda, a young man she saw abroad (but had never actually met), and who did her a silent, kind service.

     Gwendolen thinks Mr. Grandcourt will do whatever she wants, but she couldn’t have been more mistaken. He marries her so he can control a strong-willed woman, and treats her very badly. Naturally she wants out of the situation, and begins to turn to Daniel for help.

     I kept thinking the whole time (about Mr. Grandcourt): “I hope he dies” “I want him to die”. I shall not say whether or not he does – but it has a tolerably good ending. Gwendolen improves, too.

      For a collection of screencaps of Romola Garai as Gwendolen, please visit this link.

   You may also want to watch the TRAILER – it has quite a bit of Gwendolen in it, though it is short.

How I like the movie in general: I did enjoy it; however, it has a number of inappropriate scenes (and they all include Gwendolen). I watched it with one of my sisters, who skipped them for me. The story is not light (although the lighting and color itself is) and although it ended well for Daniel, I myself wasn’t quite satisfied with the ending. As it is though, I still enjoyed it – what I did see of it.

Notes

-This was the 4th role I saw Romola Garai in – quite recently, in fact.

-Gwendolen is a main character.

-Daniel’s adoptive father on here is the same actor who played a villainous man on Nicholas Nickleby.

#3: Amazing Grace (2006)

     Before I really knew anything about this movie, I imagined it would be about John Newton who wrote the hymn ‘Amazing Grace’. Although it is based on a true story, John Newton is portrayed (thought I thought a bit strangely) and the song is sung, it is, in fact, about William Wilberforce and the slave trade.

     Romola’s character in this movie is Barbara Spooner, a bright and lively woman. Barbara’s friend Marianne Thornton and her husband happen to be well acquainted with William Wilberforce (or “Wilber”), and when the Thorntons try to introduce them, they are both disgusted and exasperated by what they know to be matchmaking. However, the next time they see each other and the Thorntons are still scheming, Barbara suggests they pretend to argue, just to irritate the Thorntons. Wilber tries to bring up various subjects on which they might disagree, but they have a very hard time finding anything. Barbara is as involved as possible with the abolition and other political matters. Wilber is reluctant to discuss the slave trade, but Barbara encourages him, and soon finds himself telling her all about it. They stay awake the whole night, deep in discussion.

     Almost needless to say, they marry, and she is there to help and encourage him in his fight to abolish the slave trade, and to share in his joy and triumph when the cause is finally won.

For a collection of screencaps of Romola Garai as Barbara Spooner, please visit this link.

From what I have observed, this seems to be one of Romola Garai’s most well-known roles – I suppose the movie must have been widely acknowledged.

Click here to WATCH THE TRAILER, which as a few glimpses of Barbara in it.

How I liked the movie in general: Well, I didn’t dislike it, but I probably wouldn’t go out of my way to watch it again, at least not for a while. It was gripping, however, and there were at least 6 actors I recognized other than Romola Garai. A lot of people really seem to like it, but what can I say…I’m an inexcusable fan of fictional things.

Notes

-This is the 3rd role I saw Romola Garai in.

-Barbara is not really a main character, although the wife of the main character is something.

#4: Emma (2009) 

     This role is definitely her largest out of these mentioned, when she plays a Jane Austen heroine in this four-part mini-series. Most of you reading this, if you haven’t already seen this version, most likely already know the story…but I’ll go on to talk about it anyways.

    

     Set in Regency England, this story is about Emma Woodhouse, who lives quietly with her fretful father in a small village called Highbury. She is a self-appointed expert on the heart, and since her older sister and her former governess are married and settled, which both happened as she’d planned, she decides to play matchmaker for her “little friend” Harriet Smith. Her life-long friend (also her brother-in-law’s brother) Mr. Knightley warns her that Mr. Elton, the gentleman Emma chooses as a potential husband for her new friend, will never marry Harriet because she is too much beneath him. Used to his admonishings, Emma is determined not to heed to his advice. She soon finds out that the woman Mr. Elton sought to recommend himself to was not Harriet at all, and for a while she has to deal with a heartbroken girl and a disgusted and rather spiteful man. 

     There are soon three arrivals in Highbury: Jane Fairfax, the niece of a chatty long-time resident of the place, followed by Frank Churchill, the step-son of Mrs. Weston (Emma’s former governess), and Mr. Elton’s bride who comes from Bath. Miss Fairfax is reserved as well as more accomplished than herself, and Emma finds it neither easy or desirable to befriend her; but the long-expected Frank catches her fancy for a time.

     Although Emma means well, she always seems to make a terrible mess of things. She learns her lesson, and it turns out just right in the end – she, of course, ending up with her perfect match.

     Some people think her expressions are too exaggerated, and while I can see where they are coming from, I think it’s very appropriate for Emma to be animated. One thing I thought Romola really added well to Emma, which other actresses failed to do, was laugh a lot.

     Here are two clips of the movie.

{Edited 1/16: The clips I had here originally have been removed from YouTube. If you find any good ones, especially of the Emma/Knightley dance scene, let me know!}

For a collection of screencaps of Romola Garai as Emma Woodhouse, please visit this link.

Watch the TRAILER here

How I like the movie in general: I love it!! Definitely in my top 5 (or maybe 3) movies. Highly recommended! It’s pretty clean too, more so than other Jane Austen movies. (You can read my review of it here.)

Notes

-This is the 1st role I saw Romola Garai in.

-Emma is the main character.

-Michael Gambon, who played Mr. Woodhouse, was also on Amazing Grace.

-Johdi May, who played Mrs. Weston, was a prominent character in Daniel Deronda.

My Favorite

If you read what I wrote just there, you’ve probably already concluded that my favorite of the 4 is Emma. It was a little hard not to make the post be mainly about that movie! I think it’s a sparkling adaptation, and I love Romola’s Emma – in fact, when I refer to the actress in everyday conversation, I normally call her “Emma.”

And here we have the signature smile…

Now, what say you? Have you seen any or all of these? Any you want to see? Any you’ve seen that I didn’t mention here? Which is your favorite? Did you like this post? Would you like to see similar ones in the future? I love comments!