Jane Campion's latest film Bright Star is opening in Australia this week.
About the relationship between Fanny Brawne and John Keats at the end of his short 25 yrs of life. The poem from which the title is taken is
Bright Star! Were I steadfast as thou art
Bright star! Would I were steadfast as thou art -
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night,
And watching, with eternal lids apart,
Like Nature's patient sleepless Eremite,
The moving water's at their priestlike task
Of pure ablution around earth's human shores
Or gazing on the new soft fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors -
No, - yet still steadfast, still unchangeable,
Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast,
To feel forever it's soft fall and swell,
Awake forever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,
And so live ever - or else swoon to death.
J.Keats
This poem attributed to Keat's relationship with Fanny Brawne is both romantic and prophetic in its desire for an unconsummated but undying love in death.
There is a new edition of Keats poems and letters out to coincide with the film, including an introduction by Jane Campion describing her study of the poems as she conceived the movie. Most bookshops are selling it this week for $27.95 and including a double pass to the film next weekend.
Naturally I am look forward to seeing the movie "Bright Star" next weekend and will post my review afterwards.
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