Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley is a 2017 biographical drama film directed by Haifaa al-Mansour and written by Emma Jensen. The film stars Elle Fanning in the leading role, with support from notable actors Bel Powley and Owen Richards, among others. Fanning’s performance, coupled with al-Mansour's direction, successfully brings to vivid life one of the most influential authors of the nineteenth century, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. It delivers a deeply nuanced portrayal of Shelley’s world and her place in it, making this storytelling simultaneously relatable and fundamentally distinct in the history of English literature.

Elle Fanning eloquently portrays the young and passionate Mary Shelley, the woman who would defy societal norms and expectations to pen "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus," a novel that has had a lasting influence since its publication in 1818. This accomplishment is even more impressive considering Shelley was just 20 years old at the time.

The film focuses on the life of Mary from her early teenage years, exploring her unconventional upbringing in a progressive household, the period of her infamous artistry’s germination, her passionate but tumultuous relationship with Percy Bysshe Shelley, a romantic poet who contemporaneously met controversy, and the profusion of remarkable personalities and events that shaped her vision and fecund imagination. The narrative presents a thoroughly feminist understanding of Mary’s life, foregrounding her struggle to make her distinct place in society, in a male-dominated literary world.

Elle Fanning’s stellar performance beautifully captures the depth and complexities of Mary Shelley. From a young girl passionate about writing, through the pain of tragic loss, to a strong woman determined to forge her identity and navigate her future, Fanning brings forth all these varied facets and emotions of Mary’s life with immense credibility. Alongside Fanning, Bel Powley shines as Claire Clairmont, Shelley’s stepsister and an integral entity in the vicissitude of her life, whilst Owen Richards delivers an impressive performance as young William Godwin.

The movie is not just a historical exploration of the events that led to the creation of "Frankenstein." It goes beyond to explore the intricate facets of Mary's personality, her resilience, intellect, and rebellious spirit. It is a captivating blend of biographical details and emotional understanding that tries to uncover the driving psychological forces that led Mary to envisage and create her gothic masterwork. With its vivid exploration of themes of societal expectation, intellectual freedom, love, loss, literary creativity, and female empowerment, Mary Shelley emerges as an illuminating historical drama that is as rich in its storytelling as it is in its thematic explorations.

Set against the backdrop of 19th century England with its budding Romanticism, ravishing landscapes, intersections of societal class hierarchies, and burgeoning scientific exploration, the film's crafting of its period setting is worth mentioning. From the exquisite costumes to the elaborate sets, Mary Shelley captures the mood, and aesthetics of the time remarkably. The cinematography is attuned to al-Mansour's probing vision, oscillating between the lush romantic and the gothic, reflecting both the outer world and the inner landscapes of the protagonist. Indeed, the aesthetic of the film, perfectly captures the simultaneous beauty and grimness of the Romantic era, and serves to underline the film's many interlacing themes.

In conclusion, Mary Shelley serves as a beautifully resonant tribute to the life and work of a pioneering feminist and one of English literature's most celebrated authors. The movie is a captivating entity for both history enthusiasts and lovers of literature. It is not only a skillful exploration of Mary’s intricate life, but also a fascinating reflection on the transformative power of art, the audacity of imagination, and the importance of resilience in the face of adversity. Sharply directed by al-Mansour, bolstered by Fanning's strong performance, Mary Shelley is an engaging, insightful, and compelling biographical drama that illuminates the life of its eponymous character and offers a distinctive understanding of her seminal work, "Frankenstein."