‘Masterpiece’ BBC period drama is so good you can ‘forget The Other Bennet Sister’

The beloved television film explores the lives of the authors behind the books.

Period drama fans are falling in love with the BBC film, To Walk Invisible (Image: Huddersfield Daily Examiner)

Period drama lovers have been raving about a BBC period drama that has fans “completely hooked” by a little-known 2016 television film. To Walk Invisible follows the extraordinary, turbulent lives of the Brontë sisters and their struggle to find literary success. The story begins in 1845 in Haworth, West Yorkshire, where the four siblings are reunited at the parsonage.

It’s there that their self-destructive brother, Branwell (played by Adam Nagaitis), is dismissed from his tutoring job after having a scandalous affair with the mistress of the house. Anne (Charlie Murphy), who was working as a governess for the same family, later resigns and returns home with him.

The family’s domestic life grows increasingly tense as their father, Patrick (Jonathan Pryce), loses his eyesight in his old age. The sisters soon realise that they cannot depend on their brother for financial stability.

Branwell sinks rapidly into severe alcoholism and opium addiction, causing and financial chaos for the family. to secure their own future, Charlotte (Finn Atkins), Emily (Chloe Pirrie), and Anne turn to literature.

Working under male pseudonyms, they adopt the pen names Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell, allowing them to “walk invisible” in the literary world. While Branwell squanders his artistic potential in local taverns, the sisters write furiously by candlelight.

They self-publish a volume of poetry and eventually complete their respective debut novels: Charlotte’s Jane Eyre, Emily’s Wuthering Heights, and Anne’s Agnes Grey. Jane Eyre becomes a huge commercial success, sparking intense public curiosity about the real identity of the Bell brothers.

The two-hour film explores the success and tragedy of the Brontë family (Image: BBC/Matt Squire)

The film delves into the highs and lows of the famous family and explores themes of female agency vs societal limits, ambitions vs addiction and the price of genius. The drama was written and directed by Sally Wainwright and was inspired by a letter that Charlotte had written to her publisher about a chance meeting with a clergyman who didn’t realise her alter ego.

The BAFTA-winning writer, whose other credits include BBC dramas such as Happy Valley and Last Tango in Halifax, was “thrilled beyond measure” to be asked to “bring to life these three fascinating, talented, ingenious Yorkshire women.” The drama was filmed mostly in Yorkshire, with Haworth used extensively.

A replica of the Parsonage at Haworth was constructed on the moorland in Penistone Holl Country Park, just west of Haworth. The replica parsonage was accompanied by other buildings and a street to create a small set depicting how Haworth looked during the Brontës’ time.

Meanwhile, interior scenes were filmed in Manchester studios, while other scenes were captured in York and the Calder Valley in West Yorkshire. Despite airing a decade ago, the two-hour film is still adored by viewers new and old.

Boasting an impressive score of 83% on the popular critics’ site Rotten Tomatoes and an average rating of 7.5/10 on IMDB, fans have showered the show with praise online. One user gushed: “This was beyond incredible! The acting, costuming and set designs are fantastic.

“I would have enjoyed it just for the study of the family dynamics. Anyone would find something wonderful in this film.” Another gushed: “This is one of my favourite movies. The three sisters that all literature lovers should know. Absorbing and with authentic Yorkshire vernacular in parts.”

A third echoed: “This is one of the best Brontë biographies yet. You can forget The Other Bennet Sister. The actors were excellent and evenly cast. Each sister was given their own character: Anne seemed to be the placid one, Charlotte was a feisty little firecracker, while Emily was emotional and quick to temper. I admired all three characters.”

Fans can watch To Walk Invisible for free on BBC iPlayer.

CRE: https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/2212003/masterpiece-bbc-period-drama-better-other-bennet-sister?int_source=mantis_rec&int_medium=web&int_campaign=more_like_this