Director Jane Campion brings a deeply tragic love story to film with “Bright Star.”

Based on a true story set in 18th century England, two young lovers, Fanny Brawne played by Abbie Cornish, and John Keats played by Ben Wishaw, fall in love hopelessly and suddenly.

Fanny, a clothes designer, and John, a penniless poet, encounter difficult times as John comes and goes in and out of her life while he tries to make a living off his exceptional gift.

While the aesthetics were nothing short of dazzling, much of the movie contained unnecessary and confusing scenes.

One minute Fanny is crying hysterically that her dear “Mr. Keats,” as he is often referred to in the movie, has left for Italy and won’t be returning, and the next he is walking up the steps to her house holding her in a longing embrace as if time, not space, has torn them a part.

One aspect of the movie that I found particularly interesting is that Campion portrayed Fanny at first as a very strong, assertive, flirty female, which was extremely “unladylike” for 18th century women.

Fanny first fell in love with John’s poetry, then quickly and desperately fell in love with the man behind the phenomenal words.

The poetry that followed effortlessly from John’s mouth was astounding. I found myself sitting in the theater wondering where I could pick up a copy of these beautiful poems.

One such stanza I found myself repeating over and over in my head, “A thing of beauty is a joy forever, its loveliness increases, it will never pass into nothingness.”

With very little music and some completely noiseless scenes, the silence found often in the film adds an ounce of depth and drama that I haven’t seen in other traditional love stories.

And like any good, tragic love story, all good things must come to an end. The ending of this movie, however, was somewhat of a disappointment for me. The movie was so abrupt and left me with so many unanswered questions.

Overall, Campion did an amazing job displaying just how strong love can be and all the crazy, wonderful things it can make people do.

Amber Wertman can be reached at [email protected]