Emily is a 2022 biographical drama film written and directed by Frances O'Connor in her directorial debut. It depicts the brief life of English writer Emily Brontë, portrayed by Emma Mackey. Fionn Whitehead, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Alexandra Dowling, Amelia Gething, Adrian Dunbar and Gemma Jones also appear in supporting roles.
Emily | |
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Directed by | Frances O'Connor |
Written by | Frances O'Connor |
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Cinematography | Nanu Segal |
Edited by | Sam Sneade |
Music by | Abel Korzeniowski |
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Running time | 130 minutes[1] |
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Language | English |
Emily premiered at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival before being theatrically released in the United Kingdom by Warner Bros. Pictures on 14 October 2022, and in the United States by Bleecker Street in 2023.
The film depicts the brief life of English writer Emily Brontë before she wrote Wuthering Heights.
The film was announced in May 2020 with Emma Mackey cast in the titular role, with Joe Alwyn, Fionn Whitehead and Emily Beecham being cast as people in Emily’s life. Frances O'Connor was set to write and direct the film.[2] Both Alwyn and Beecham left the project prior to the start of filming in April 2021, with Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Alexandra Dowling, Amelia Gething, Gemma Jones and Adrian Dunbar joining the cast. Filming began in Yorkshire on 16 April 2021 and concluded on 26 May.[3]
Warner Bros. Pictures has acquired the UK distribution rights to the film.[4]
Emily had its world premiere in the Platform Prize lineup at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2022.[5] In May 2022, it was announced that Bleecker Street has acquired the US distribution rights for the film, with a release year of 2023.
After its premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, the film received a score of 100% on Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.[6]
In his review for The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw describes the film as "beautifully acted, lovingly shot, fervently and speculatively imagined".[7] Mark Kermode describes Emily as a "full-blooded gothic fable", praising O’Connor's "spine-tingling feature debut".[8]
Writing for The Playlist, Jason Bailey said: "With Emily, actor-turned-director Frances O’Connor has crafted a first film that feels like the work of an accomplished master".[9] Particular praise was also given for the main cast's performances, with Lovia Gyarkye writing "Mackey commands the screen, confidently shepherding us through Emily’s mercurial moods" for The Hollywood Reporter.[10]
The film received three awards at the Dinard British Film Festival: Golden Hitchcock, Best Performance Award for Emma Mackey and Audience Award.[11]
Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
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British Independent Film Awards | 4 December 2022 | Best Lead Performance | Emma Mackey | Pending | [12] |
Best Supporting Performance | Fionn Whitehead | Pending | |||
Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director) | Frances O'Connor | Pending | |||
Best Ensemble Performance | Amelia Gething, Emma Mackey, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Fionn Whitehead, Alexandra Dowling, Gemma Jones, Adrian Dunbar | Pending | |||
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Charlotte |
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Emily |
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Anne |
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Juvenilia |
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Family |
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