There have been many “secret relationship” movies involving famous people brought to the big and small screen over the years. “The Invisible Woman”, directed by and starring Ralph Fiennes as legendary author Charles Dickens, is most recent and one of the best in the genre. Fiennes skillfully draws us into this story, making time and place a vital part of this film.
It’s the mid-1800s, and Dickens has established himself as England’s greatest writer for such works as “Oliver Twist”, “Nicholas Nickleby” and “David Copperfield”. He’s also writing and performing in plays. He invites a colleague (Kristin Scott Thomas) and her three daughters to assist in a small stage production. Dickens quickly grows fond of the youngest girl, 18-year-old Nelly (played by Felicity Jones). She loves Dickens’ work and admires him greatly, but knows he is married with eight children. But a relationship begins, which will have a dramatic effect on the lives of everyone involved.
“The Invisible Woman” is told in flashback, with an older Nelly, now a teacher, recounting her time with Dickens while she prepares a group of small children to perform one of his plays. Fiennes makes several smart decisions behind the camera, including not annoying us with any back-and-forth conflicts. He lays the narrative out quite simply – almost too simply. It’s not until the final 10 minutes when this becomes more than a “one-note film”.
Many themes from Dickens’ classic books are weaved into the film, including the loneliness of Ebenezer Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol”. Nelly and Charles do come together, but Nelly points out, while looking back on her life, that we are all still haunted by loneliness even around someone we truly love and appreciate. There’s also a strong focus on the concept of choices we make and the ability to overcome them later in life.
Fiennes is incredibly natural as Dickens, immersing himself into this character as he does so well with most of his roles. We see all sides of Dickens – kind, mean, generous, selfish. Jones is very good, and Scott Thomas is solid in a largely supporting role. The period costumes (which were nominated for an Oscar and a BAFTA) and set design are excellent, accompanied by a lovely score.
“The Invisible Woman” is rated R for language, and brief adult content and nudity. It’s appropriate for teens and up and works nicely as an educational element for those studying and/or reading Dickens. While not extraordinary, its enticing story and credible performances make it well worth seeking out.
On The Official LCJ Report Card, “The Invisible Woman” gets a B.