The movie “Bright Star” is a movie about the short life of John Keats, his poetry, and the love he shared with Fanny Braun. The casting director decided to go with a very tall actor to play John Keats, who in real life was only about 5’ 3” or so. Other characters that were important in the movie were Mr. Brown who was Keats’ best friend, Fanny’s siblings, and Fanny’s mother.
The beginning of the movie gives us background information about Keats and Brown. Keats is staying with Brown because his published poetry is not selling and he cannot afford to rent his own place. Keats was a doctor but he gave up that life to pursue a life of creativity and poetry. We also discover that Keats is the primary caregiver to his eighteen year old brother who is slowly dying of tuberculosis. Fanny, who comes from a well off family, takes interest in Keats and begins finding excuses to spend time with him.
After taking poetry lessons, visiting Keats’ brother, and spending Christmas night with Keats, Fanny and Keats cannot help but fall in love. The love that these two share continues to grow even after Mrs. Braun and Mr. Brown have expressed their concerns. When Keats’ plans his leave he does not tell Fanny at first. Fanny believes that Keats is untrustworthy because of his secrets. This is where their relationship goes through it’s first test. Throughout the summer Keats and Fanny write to each other and their relationship flourishes, until Fanny believes that short letters mean a short lived fairy tale.
When Keats returns their love is almost instantly rekindled and Keats gives Fanny a “friendship” ring which later becomes an official engagement ring. This does not happen until the winter after Keats’ return when his own tuberculosis starts showing symptoms. Throughout the battle with the illness, Keats and Fanny only grow deeper in love and Keats wrote the best poetry he had ever written. When Keats died Fanny would read his poems, the poems he wrote for her, especially “Bright Star”.
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