Lady Chatterley’s Lover (2022), based on the book of the same name and known for being controversial at its time of release, is a film that maintains these elements of controversy by challenging the perspectives that modern day cinema has in relation to sex and gender.

One of the strongest elements of Lady Chatterley’s Lover is its incredible direction. The shot composition and technical craft employed by director Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre exemplify the films contrasting ideas of isolation and intimacy in a way that is hard to ignore. Having long, unbreaking shots of characters alone in the view of the camera exemplifies the isolating nature that comes with life in the upper class, conveying to the audience perfectly what the characters are feeling and going through without any need for dialogue.

These isolating shots are in turn contrasted by the sex scenes found throughout the film. While numerous by design, these scenes are also incredibly tasteful in the way they are crafted – they do not feel forced or gratuitous but rather a natural element of the story and a believable depiction of the characters. These scenes exist to portray the intimacy that comes as a part of the lower class, the ability to express and display care and compassion for another.

Lady Constance Chatterley (Emma Corrin), also known as Connie, gives a phenomenal lead performance throughout the film. Being in almost every single scene of the film, a lot of the quality hinges on the ability of Corrin to make their character believable in her tribulations, and in every way, they succeed at this. Connie is a character that you are entirely capable of understanding every facet of, from her desires to her struggles, and as such she garners an incredibly easy sympathy throughout the film.

She is a fantastic character that you cannot help but support and want to see succeed. A large part of the success of Connie’s character not only extends to Corrin’s performance in the role but also to how she is depicted within the film. Her character has a believable and fulfilling development over the course of the story, with the agency of the plot placed firmly in her hands, lending well to the subtle exploration of gender roles in society throughout the film.

The plotline of Lady Chatterley’s Lover is, on paper, a very typical love story, but thanks in large part to its ideas and craft, ends up being incredibly evocative of a sense of care and passion that is hard to find in other films. One of the strongest elements of Lady Chatterley’s Lover is its incredible direction. The way the story is presented and adapted also must be commended, maintaining the sense of controversy and scandal the original book was renowned for by pushing for the agency of its female lead above all else, and not shying away from showing the intimacy of sex in a tactful manner in a cinematic landscape that is dominated by male-centric films that rely heavily on the gratuitous nature of the male-gaze.

Verdict:

Lady Chatterley’s Lover is an unexpectedly powerful film that hits all the correct notes to build a story that is evocative and impactful. Through its story and characters, it pushes the ideas of the negative impacts of prudency, often seen in more sterilised films such as those in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the ability for a woman to have agency over her own life and decisions. It is a film that by its very existence encourages necessary discussion and thought on how we view specific elements of society. Overall, it is arguably one of the strongest romantic films of the year and one that would be recommended for its unique and well-constructed nature.

Rating: 8/10

Lady Chatterley’s Lover was recently shown at the BFI London Film Festival 2022 and is streaming on Netflix on December 2nd 2022 

For recent releases, check out these other articles from Redbrick Film:

Review: Do Revenge 

Review: Blonde 

Review: See How They Run