Dating problems don't seem to change much from century to century. In Far From the Madding Crowd, independent, land-owning Bathsheba Everdene (the always wonderful Carey Mulligan) is in a position to choose between three suitors: faithful, steadfast Gabriel Oak (Matthias Schoenaerts), needy, wealthy William Boldwood (Michael Sheen), and immature, sexy Sgt. Francis Troy (Tom Sturridge). Or she can choose not to marry at all.
I knew very little about Thomas Hardy's novels going into this film. All I knew is that they are tragic. So I was pleasantly surprised at how little Bathsheba was "punished" for her independent and impetuous ways. Bathsheba is granted second and third chances after making pretty terrible mistakes. Ironically, her suitors are the ones who suffer most egregiously.
Set 200 miles outside of London in 1870, Far From the Madding Crowd presents us with a highly unusual heroine. Orphaned at a young age, Bathsheba inherits her uncle's farm after he passes away. Not only does she control the farm's finances, she gets out there and bales hay with the farmhands. Gabriel Oak is a fellow farmer who lives near Bathsheba, but when his entire flock of sheep dies in a freak accident (if you're an animal lover, don't watch this movie) he must sell his farm and take up a position as a shepherd at Bathsheba's farm. The power reversal, as well as Bathsheba's desire to remain independent, make a marriage between the two seemingly impossible.
Bathsheba is soon pursued by William Boldwood, a man about two decades older than her and a lifelong bachelor after being jilted by a fiancee years ago. Boldwood is the "nice guy" in this story: he pursues Bathsheba after she makes it clear she doesn't have feelings for him, promises her a life of ease if she marries him, and is so desperate that it makes you cringe.
Finally, there is Sergeant Francis Troy, who literally bumps into Bathsheba as she is wandering in the woods one evening. Troy is the sexy bad boy of the three suitors: after being left at the altar by the woman he truly loves, Troy foolishly pursues Bathsheba as a way to get over his grief. Bathesheba, swayed by lust (she's never been kissed before meeting Troy), agrees on a whim to marry him...and regrets it almost immediately.
You might think the story ends there. After all, divorce wasn't common in 1870's Britain. But through a few melodramatic twists and turns, Bathsheba has a second chance to make things right and to be with the man it's so clear from the beginning that she's meant to be with: Gabriel.
I had mixed feelings about Far From the Madding Crowd. It's definitely a beautiful film, filled with lush scenery from the English countryside. It also has a strong, yet realistically flawed heroine. It seemed to me that Bathsheba's (and, for that matter, Troy's) main problem is that she is young. Although she is given a great responsibility at a young age wisdom hasn't caught up with her yet. Thus, she shares a passionate kiss (and grope) with Troy in the woods and then marries him, thinking passion equals a good match in a partner. Likewise, Troy is not exactly the bad guy I expected him to be--just really immature and more interested in partying and pining over his lost love than running a farm.
I wasn't a fan of the overwrought melodrama of the story. There are more twists and turns in the two hour film than in an entire season of Days of Our Lives. I realize that this is just the nature of Victorian romance, but the twists felt so arbitrary and unlikely.
Overall, Far From the Madding Crowd is decent and enjoyable. If you're a fan of period films you'll probably enjoy more than I did. The real draw for me was Carey Mulligan's performance as the proud, self-assured Bathsheba.
Grade: B-
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