"Wide Sargasso Sea” (1993) presents tragedy, love, hate, and madness against the backdrop of 19th century Jamaica. A young woman, portrayed by Karina Lombard, enters into marriage with an Englishman, played by Nathaniel Parker, in the mid-1800s to protect her family’s plantation. Rachel Ward takes on the role of her mother, Michael York is her stepfather, and Martine Beswick portrays her aunt, though these are smaller parts. This adult-oriented historical drama functions as a sort of prequel to “Jane Eyre.” I use the term "quasi" because Jean Rhys penned the 1966 novel upon which the film is based nearly a century and two decades after Charlotte Bronte published “Jane Eyre” in 1847. Essentially, “Wide Sargasso Sea” offers Rhys’ interpretation of events leading up to that well-known story rather than an official prequel. While familiarity with “Jane Eyre” enhances appreciation for the film, it isn't essential viewing. Naturally, "Wide Sargasso Sea" provides a deeper understanding of what transpires in “Jane Eyre,” which has been adapted into several films—I’ve only seen the 1970 version starring George C. Scott and Susannah York. The strongest aspects are the setting, the performances, and the overall style; it successfully transports viewers back to Jamaica around the early 1850s. The two lead actors are believable in their roles, as is Claudia Robinson as Antoinette’s nurse, a practitioner of obeah (voodoo), and Rowena King as Amelie, an island girl who seems overly confident. Really, the entire cast delivers strong performances. There's a slave revolt depicted early on that feels both authentic and disturbing. The tone becomes more cheerful during Antoinette & Edward’s honeymoon, but it shifts to darkness in the second half. I didn’t feel the reasons behind Edward’s transformation were adequately explained; the filmmakers could have clarified this better. The latter portion of the film has a sense of unpleasantness and is rather somber. If you're prepared for that, I would recommend watching it. It combines elements reminiscent of “Burn!” (1969) with “The Piano” (1993) and “Sirens” (1994), the latter two films appearing within a year of this one. The movie has a running time of 1 hour and 38 minutes and was filmed in Jamaica, with a small portion shot in England. GRADE: B-

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