Wuthering Heights (2011)
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A poor boy of unknown origins is taken in by a family where he develops an intense relationship with his young foster sister.
The story
The film follows the lives of Heathcliff and Catherine, two children growing up in a rural setting. After Heathcliff is rescued from poverty and taken in by the Earnshaw family, he develops an intense and passionate relationship with his young foster sister, Cathy. Their bond is portrayed as a tale of elemental love that creates a storm of vengeance. The narrative focuses specifically on their childhood and adolescence, adapting the core elements of the original novel while highlighting their complex emotional connection.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film follows the lives of Heathcliff and Catherine, who are taken in by the Earnshaw family. Heathcliff, a boy of unknown origins, is rescued from poverty and forms an intense, passionate bond with his foster sister, Cathy. Their relationship is described as a tale of elemental love that leads to a storm of vengeance. The film focuses on their development through childhood and adolescence, staying true to the spirit of the original novel while exploring the romantic yearning at the heart of the story.
- First release year
- 2011
- Runtime (minutes)
- 129
- Production countries
- United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Andrea Arnold
- Writers
- Andrea Arnold · writer; Olivia Hetreed · writer
- Cast and characters
- Kaya Scodelario · Catherine Earnshaw; James Howson · Heathcliff; Shannon Beer · Young Catherine; Solomon Glave · Young Heathcliff; Oliver Milburn · Mr. Linton; Nichola Burley · Isabella Linton; Eve Coverley · Young Isabella; James Northcote · Edgar Linton
- Genres
- Gothic; romantic drama
- Themes
- romance; vengeance
- Tone and mood
- gritty; naturalistic
- Premise and plot tags
- historical; romance; interracial romance
- Source material / true-story basis
- Emily Brontë's 1847 novel of the same name
- Reception
- The film is described as a gritty, naturalistic re-imagining of the classic that stays true to the book's spirit while using an unconventional approach to explore romantic yearning.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 70% · scale: percent · review count: 113; Metacritic · score: 70 · scale: 100 · review count: 24
- Production trivia
- Natalie Portman was originally set to star as Cathy.; The film features music by the band Mumford & Sons.; The production was filmed in several North Yorkshire locations.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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