"Every human creature is a profound secret and mystery to every other."

In this follow up to his directorial debut, Coriolanus, Ralph Fiennes directs himself as Charles Dickens focusing on a specific period of his life rather than on a full blown biography. I am a huge fan of Dickens' work and have read many of his novels, but this film focuses on his later years after he had become a successful and respected writer. He was a very popular figure during the Victorian Age and we get glimpses of this here in The Invisible Woman as he struggles to hide his affection for a teenage stage actress he encounters named Nelly Ternan (played by Felicity Jones). Dickens is married, but he finds no fulfillment in his wife who doesn't understand his work. But since he's such a public figure, he must keep his affair a secret which is something Nelly finds hard to accept. This period piece stands out visually thanks to the beautiful costume design and setting which transports us to the Victorian Age. The Oscar nomination for achievement in costume design was well deserved although it lost out to The Great Gatsby. The performances from Felicity Jones and Ralph Fiennes were superb and the chemistry between them was strong, but the major issue with this film has to do with its slow pacing. The film is a little less than two hours long, but it feels like much more. However it's hard to resist this film due to the charm that Fiennes' Dickens evokes on the viewer. We have read his novels where he bears his soul about his troubled and difficult past (David Copperfield is my favorite work of his and it is his most autobiographical one),but I really never pictured him as this successful writer who enjoyed the spotlight and had such charisma. Its that very essence of Dickens that got me through the movie.

The Invisible Woman was adapted by Abi Morgan from Claire Tomalin's book and it focuses on Dickens' affair from Nelly's point of view as she dealt with the pain of their secret relationship despite having a privileged life. Everything about this period piece looks beautiful, but still it feels like its missing something and I quite can't figure it out yet. I can't fully grasp the mystery as to why Nelly accepted to live this life while internally she despised herself for it. The film doesn't bear her soul, but only shows signs of this externally through her strong performance. She is troubled and despite her admiration for Dickens' work we don't see that same passion in her eyes that he shares for her. The supporting performances from Kristin Scott Thomas, Tom Hollander, and Joanna Scanlan do lift the movie. Scanlan plays an important role as Dickens' wife as she comes to grasp the reality of her husband's affair. It's the poor way she's treated by Dickens that turns her off. However, Dickens is so charming that it's hard not to like him. Scott Thomas plays Nelly's mother and she is the one that convinces her to accept the life Dickens offers her. The film explores this complex relationship and it succeeds in most part thanks to the strong performances but it still fails to engage us more in their world. Just like Nelly's repressed emotions, the film at times feels repressed and doesn't quite manage to open up for the audience.

In Margate, England 1883, Mrs. Wharton Robinson/Nelly (Felicity Jones) is haunted by her past. Years earlier, Nelly at 18 joined her mother Mrs. Frances Ternan (Kristin Scott Thomas) at one of Charles Dickens (Ralph Fiennes)'s play. She catches his eye even though she's not a particularly good actress. Her mother is worried. Dickens eventually starts an affair with her as he announces his separation from his embarrassed wife in a public letter in the newspaper. In the process, he would write "Great Expectations".

I don't think I've ever seen the character of Charles Dickens in a movie. I don't know what expectations I have of him but this is probably not what I imagined. He is basically a rock star and he is a flawed human being. There are some really powerful scenes of their relationship and the moral constraints of the day. However those scenes are sandwiched between lots of slow uninteresting scenes. The acting is all good. Felicity Jones gives both the innocent and the hurt. Ralph Fiennes gives an interesting performance although I would want a more overpowering presence. As a director, he shows that he's capable of doing the work, but I wish it revealed more of his personal style. In general, this is a functional period piece with flashes of greatness.

I normally love a good period drama. I also love Dickens (read all his novels and short stories). However, this film doesn't work for me. The film is based on Claire Tomalin's book which relies a great deal on supposition. There is not much primary source material about the affair. So you watch this thinking this is the way it was... but nothing can truly back up these assumptions. Why is it we want to tear down those writers, artists, and others who are dead and cannot speak for their actions. The film makes Dickens to be a cruel person towards his wife and his mistress. Perhaps he was, but why do we care? This was his personal life and has nothing to do with his writing. I Also found the jumping back and forth too distracting. Felicity Jones was miscast. I would not recommend this film.