Far from the Madding Crowd

Far from the Madding Crowd has everything you’d expect from an English period drama: the charming dresses and hats; spectacular cinematography of the countryside; old-fashioned courtship and stately parties. What you might not expect as a heroine is a single woman so independent that she has no apparent need for marriage.

Based on Thomas Hardy’s 1874 novel, which held surprisingly modern sensibilities for its era, Madding Crowd (PG-13 for some sexuality and violence) has received praise from critics for its “feminist spin.” But rather than picket against gender roles, the film actually draws an understated yet realistic and appealing portrayal of traditional femininity and masculinity, thanks to the lead actors’ exquisite performances.

Bathsheba Everdene (Carey Mulligan) admits she’s “too independent,” but that pluck serves her well when she inherits her uncle’s country estate. She immediately gets down to business, firing incompetent employees and haggling with condescending older businessmen. “From now on you have a mistress, not a master,” she informs her new staff. “It’s my intention to astonish you all.”

Astonish she does, as well as capture the attention of three eligible bachelors: The first, young shepherd Gabriel Oaks (Matthias Schoenaerts), proposes when Bathsheba is still barely a peasant. She declines. After he loses everything and their fortunes reverse, Bathsheba hires the still-besotten Gabriel, annulling any possibility of marriage due to class differences.

Next to turn goo-goo is the prosperous, middle-aged farmer William Boldwood (Michael Sheen), who offers her protection and pretty toys. So infatuated is Mr. Boldwood, that he suggests she doesn’t even have to love him back as long as she marries him. Bathsheba has a tougher time thwarting the boyish charms of Sgt. Francis Troy (Tom Sturridge), a twinkle-eyed redcoat who knows he’s handsome and dashing, and works it.

Achingly tragic, beautifully captured, and sweet in all its mundane moments, the story revolves around Bathsheba’s three very different ideals of love: steadfast and gentle friendship; material comfort and stability; or passion and sex. When it comes to love, however, even someone as smart and independent as Bathsheba will expose moments of folly and vulnerability.