Charlotte Bronte's classic novel of Gothic romance gets the Zeffirelli treatment in this moving 1996 adaptation. Orphaned Jane Eyre (Charlotte Gainsbourg) grows into a strong-willed heroine after enduring a miserable childhood (where she's played by Anne Paquin). Things start looking better when she falls in love with the brooding Rochester (William Hurt), lord of the manor where she gets a job as governess. Unfortunately, Rochester's family skeletons threaten to sabotage their happy ending. Director Franco Zeffirelli (HAMLET, OTELLO) stays faithful to the book while stressing natural characters and landscapes over stylized gloom and mystery, with rewarding results.

Franco Zeffirelli (THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, ROMEO & JULIET) once again proves himself a faithful custodian of the classics with this adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's 1847 masterpiece. Anna Paquin (following up her Oscar winning role in THE PIANO) plays the young Jane Eyre, orphaned forced to endure life at a harsh boarding school. She grows into an independent, strong-willed woman (Charlotte Gainsbourg) who takes a governess position at the remote Thornton Hall, where she falls in love with the brooding owner, Mr. Rochester (William Hurt). He loves her too, but his dark secrets and her own fears, stand in the way of their happiness. This is a lushly photographed and well-acted drama that stresses realism and emotional honesty over the gothic gloom associated with previous versions. Though abrupt in spots, the film stays true to Bronte's novel, and it's full of the natural beauty one expects from the work of this famed director.

Theatrical release: April 12, 1996.

The film was shot on location in Derbyshire, England, and in Italy.

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Interactive Features:
Interactive Menus
Scene Access

Distributor Notes: Jane Eyre

Academy Award(R)-winner William Hurt (1985 Best Actor -- KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN; SMOKE) leads an all-star cast in this story of passion and intrigue! Jane Eyre (Charlotte Gainsbourg) is a young woman whose will to overcome a life of hardship leads her into a passionate romance with a handsome -- and mysterious -- gentleman (Hurt). Swept up in the possibility of a happy new life, Jane is shattered when terrible, untold secrets from his past are revealed, threatening to tear her and her lover apart forever! Also featuring the talents of Anna Paquin (THE PIANO), Joan Plowright (ENCHANTED APRIL), and sexy Elle MacPherson (SIRENS), this enduring tale has captivated moviegoers everywhere, just as Charlotte Bronte's classic best-seller has entertained for generations!

Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment.

William Hurt: American Actor, THE BIG CHILL (1983)
Charlotte Gainsbourg: French actress, MY WIFE IS AN ACTRESS
Joan Plowright: British Actress, ENCHANTED APRIL
Anna Paquin: Oscar winning Actress, THE PIANO
Geraldine Chaplin: American actress, DOCTOR ZHIVAGO
Billie Whitelaw: British Actress
Maria Schneider: French Actress
Fiona Shaw: British Actress
Elle Macpherson: Australian Supermodel/Actress, SIRENS (1994)
John Wood: 
Amanda Root: Star, THE IMPRESSIONISTS (2006)

Franco Zeffirelli: Italian Director/Screenwriter

"...Jane and Hurt's ravaged good looks find the haunting essence of a classic story..."
"...JANE EYRE boasts solid craftsmanship and smart thesping from a stellar cast ably led by the vibrant Charlotte Gainsbourg..."
"...Visual spendor and empathic intensity..." -- Rating: A-
"...The movie creates the right visual atmosphere....This is a romance between two troubled, wounded people, and by playing it that way Zeffirelli makes it touching..."