The Invisible Woman (2013)

"The Invisible Woman" opens with a Charles Dickens quote:

A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other.

It is this capacity for secrecy that director Ralph Fiennes attempts to capture in this period-piece set in the 1800s. Fiennes plays the role of Charles Dickens at the height of his writing career. The film is based on the true story of young actress Nelly Ternan’s (Felicity Jones) extramarital relationship with the legendary author.

The film opens up after Dickens’ death, where we meet his former mistress Nelly, who reflects upon her fragile relationship with the author. It’s a secret that seems to haunt her daily as she, ironically, directs a children’s play based on a Dickens play. The film jumps back and forth as the events surrounding their relationship are revealed.

Despite the fact that he is still married to his wife, Catherine (Joanna Scanlan), Dickens is immediately captivated by Nelly after hearing her perform in one of his plays. Dickens is shown as a very selfish character, though the film does a poor job of showing Dickens’ motivations and intentions.

Dickens is shown as the life of the party and a man whom the public adores; the film accurately depicts that adoration, as well as Dickens’ knack for words. It is Dickens’ gift of gab that allows him to win Nelly, even under the watchful eye of her protective mother (played by Kristin Scott Thomas). At one point in the film, Dickens’ wife accidentally receives a gift intended for Nelly; upon hearing about this error, although it’s never revealed how, Dickens convinces his wife to present the gift to Nelly. It’s moments like these where we learn about Dickens through the actions of others. It is this flaw that makes the relationship with Nelly — the key component of this film — seem contrived.

"The Invisible Woman" is paced slowly, as one might expect with a film set in the 1800s, but for those willing to be patient as well as forgive the film's "fatal flaw," the payoff is almost as poetic and life-affirming as Dickens himself may have written it.