A View of ‘Wuthering Heights’
Ashley Jo Will

Recently a friend and I traveled to Utah in order to specifically see the newest adaptation of “Wuthering Heights.” It is from the United Kingdom and is directed by Andrea Arnold. After months of wondering if we would be able to see it on a big screen, it was finally brought to the United States as part of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Not long ago, we had finished reading the book “Wuthering Heights”, written by Emily Bronte, as part of our book club. As soon as we discovered the arrival of this new adaptation, we made it our goal to obtain tickets. We soon found out it was well worth the drive on icy Wyoming roads.

One night the head of the Earnshaw family returns home with a boy he had found homeless and orphaned in the streets. Mr. Earnshaw tells his two children and servants that the boy was alone and taking him home seemed to be the Christian thing to do. The dark-skinned stranger does not receive a warm acceptance and is spit on. He is soon brought to a church to be given a name and baptized. The newly christened Heathcliff runs out of the building after receiving an unexpected douse of water on his face. Mr. Earnshaw’s daughter, Catherine, finds Heathcliff and does not reveal his location. Catherine is a rambunctious tomboy, who enjoys nature and becoming dirty. This is perhaps due to a lack of a motherly figure in her life. Catherine and Heathcliff form a close bond and are often found exploring among the moors.

Hindley is Mr. Earnshaw’s son. He becomes jealous of the level of affection that his father shows Heathcliff. Hindley often curses at Heathcliff and labels him with disparaging names. In addition to hateful words, Hindley often physically hurts him. Catherine takes care of Heathcliff’s injuries while Heathcliff’s hatred for Hindley continues to brew. As a result of this abuse, Heathcliff enjoys witnessing Hindley being punished as retribution. Catherine attempts to stop her brother from torturing her dear friend. Hindley’s hatred for Heathcliff also brews and he desires to break the bond between his sister and Heathcliff. Speaking of cruel behavior, there is profanity, violence and animal abuse in the film, which is to be expected by readers of the novel.

A nightly adventure goes awry and causes the separation of Heathcliff and Catherine. In her absence, he continues to be harassed by Hindley and is only an animal to him. He is even forced to sleep in the barn like one. Heathcliff continues to work on his foster family’s land and eagerly awaits Catherine’s return, despite Hindley’s warnings not to speak to his sister. Catherine arrives home with a changed appearance. She had been staying with a rich family and has learned the culture of being a lady. Despite Hindley’s warnings, Heathcliff appears shortly after Catherine arrives. At once she wraps her arms around him in a tight embrace, but remarks upon his filthiness. Heathcliff is not receiving the warm welcome he expected and exclaims the exact same lines in the film as in the novel, “You needn’t have touched me!”

It is Heathcliff’s nature to be wild and free, without any concern for becoming dirty or speaking curse words. Catherine’s nature seems to be this way too but she seems to be changing and not finding time for Heathcliff anymore. There is a particular way for a girl such as Catherine to act in society that is at odds with her sincerest desires. Heathcliff has no money to his name and is becoming out of place among the Earnshaw family members. Years pass but their love and addiction for one another only grows stronger, no matter what circumstances arise in their lives. This love is strongly conveyed in the film through the subtle interactions between Catherine and Heathcliff and the emotions they express while they are alone. I was pleased with the omission of any explicit love scenes, like most romance movies have today. Their love is obviously genuine, even without any physical contact.

The new “Wuthering Heights” film is emotionally compelling. A primary reason is that the audience feels as if they are within the movie. Everything is either at the point of view of Heathcliff or the audience feels as if they are next to him. What Heathcliff experiences and feels is experienced and felt by the audience as well. One example among many is that when Heathcliff is riding a horse, the audience just sees the horse’s coat and mane. The audience is able to ride along with Heathcliff and experience all his five senses due to the effects by the cinematography. Insects are seen and heard. The smell of rain and plant life is experienced. Breath is seen on a cold day or night and a shiver is felt as the audience feels as if they are cold too. Heathcliff closes his eyes and tastes a morsel from Catherine. Hair is pulled but the trust that is expressed conveys that neither Catherine nor Heathcliff want to hurt each other. The audience’s connection with Heathcliff is so up close and personal that it is impossible not to become sympathetic for him.

“Wuthering Heights” is truly a complementary piece to the novel. A few of my favorite lines that I remembered from the novel were replicated and spoken by various characters in the film. After I finished the book, I had decided that I didn’t like Heathcliff at all and that he isn’t worth any adoration. Seeing Andrea Arnold’s interpretation of “Wuthering Heights” changed my mind completely. The film caused me to feel all of Heathcliff’s emotions from pure joy to utter agony. A song by the indie-rock band Mumford and Sons is in the film and captures the bittersweet mood of the story. Although over two hours long, I felt like the film ended abruptly and would have gladly endured two more hours with Heathcliff. The film seems to be made for fans of the book because much of the story is brushed aside and not fully explained, especially since the audience is seeing Heathcliff’s point of view. If someone watched the film without reading the book first, they may be confused with the lack of information and intimate details that the film seems to assume that the audience knows from the novel. If you are a book aficionado like me and have read “Wuthering Heights” or plan on reading it soon, watch for “Wuthering Heights” to be released on video at an undetermined time.