William Hurt's thoughtful, subdued interpretation of Mr Rochester makes its own gently neurotic contribution to the Brontë movie canon - to add to the more boisterous variations already provided by Orson Welles and George C Scott - in this stylish and atmospheric take on the famous novel. Director Franco Zeffirelli lays on sufficient simmering passion to make it interesting, yet at the same time brings the romantic longings of the two lead characters down to a more mundane, human level. Charlotte Gainsbourg was seen by some, however, as too fiery for the role of Jane, having perhaps too much of the spirit of her mother, Jane Birkin, in her. The scenes in the orphanage are well done, and there's an eclectic supporting cast that includes Billie Whitelaw, Maria Schneider and Anna Paquin (as the young Jane). It will disappoint aficionados of the novel and is probably best viewed as a youngster's primer to the text.

After a bleak childhood, Jane Eyre goes out into the world to become a governess. As she lives happily in her new position at Thornfield Hall, she meets the dark, cold, and abrupt master of the house, Edward Rochester. Jane and her employer grow close in friendship and she soon finds herself falling in love with him. Happiness seems to have found Jane at last, but could Rochester's terrible secret be about to destroy it forever?