Romantic and sexy, the latest adaptation of D.H Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover has Emma Corrin (The Crown) as the titular Lady and Jack O’Connell (Unbroken) as the Lady’s working-class lover, Oliver Mellors. Lawrence’s work, controversial in its time, has been adapted countless times over. Thanks to the sizzling chemistry between Corrin and O’Connell, director Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre’s version is one of the best.
Screenwriter David Magee’s adaptation of Lawrence’s classic novel arrives on Netflix in 2022 as a luscious bodice ripper and rebuke of society’s expectations and restrictions within well-defined classes.
The wealthy Sir Clifford Chatterley (Matthew Duckett) and the lovely Connie Reid marry before Clifford heads off to fight in the Great War. He returns a different man, paralyzed from the waist down and unable to fulfill his wife’s needs emotionally or physically.
It’s not due to any desire of his for Connie to find comfort and sexual fulfillment outside their marriage but rather Clifford’s selfish need for an heir that prompts a shocking proposal. It’s at his urging that Connie takes a lover, although Clifford prefers not to know who she chooses. Would Connie have ever acted on her attraction to the ruggedly handsome gamekeeper if not for her husband’s shocking suggestion? Perhaps. But the detached way Clifford tossed out the idea certainly added to her dissatisfaction with their marriage.
Mingling among the classes is frowned upon, yet Lady Chatterley is drawn to the intelligent, thoughtful gamekeeper employed by her husband to care for their estate. Their first real encounter comes when Connie gently holds a chick, overcome with wonder at the delicateness and beauty of the bird. This bird reminds her of the fragility of life, and she holds tight to Oliver who accepts the embrace and acknowledges her pain.
Their first sexual exploration eventually follows, beginning their affair with the unspoken acknowledgment of their mutual need to allow their bodies to feel a primal connection. As they grow to understand each other, their relationship transitions from lust to love. They also become free to sexually experiment, and Connie even insists Oliver not treat her like a “Lady.”
Connie blossoms, and the changes are noticeable to anyone who cares to look. Fortunately for Connie and Oliver, Sir Chatterley is blind to Connie’s newfound happiness – at least for a while. But as tongues begin to wag and gossip spreads throughout the town, Connie’s put into a situation where she must make a choice between a loveless, lifeless marriage and giving up everything for love.
Benoit Delhomme’s exquisite cinematography brings the 1920s alive. A muted color palate evokes a sense of confinement and restriction upon the world Connie and Oliver inhabit, with only sporadic splashes of vibrant color signifying Connie’s sexual awakening. Isabella Summers’ score compliments the love story and never overshadows or attempts to dictate the mood.
Emma Corrin and Jack O’Connell do a fabulous job of making us feel the heat between Connie and Oliver. The couple’s relationship begins with an almost naïve gentleness and transitions into a much more passionate love affair that fulfills both sexually, emotionally, and intellectually. Corrin and O’Connell’s performances capture that evolution from self-restraint to completely giving themselves over to each other.
Matthew Duckett’s not given much room to ingratiate himself with the audience. Clifford’s incredibly insensitive to the plight of the working class, and his boorish behavior makes it easy to view him as the villain. That Clifford doesn’t display any redeeming qualities also makes it easy to root for the star-crossed lovers, not that viewers will need a push toward doing so.
Director Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover is smartly paced, superbly shot, and features compelling performances by Emma Corrin and Jack O’Connell. A beautiful tale of sexual awakening, Lady Chatterley’s Lover invites viewers to get swept up in Connie and Oliver’s love story. It’s an invitation you should accept.
GRADE: B
MPAA Rating: R for graphic nudity, strong sexual content, and some language
Release Date: November 23, 2022 in limited theaters. December 2, 2022 on Netflix.
Running Time: 2 hours six minutes
Cast: Emma Corrin, Jack O’Connell, Matthew Duckett, Joely Richardson, Faye Marsay, and Ella Hunt
