Lady Chatterley's Lover Review : A steamy and sensuous affair lit by Emma Corrin and Jack O Connell’s scorching on-screen chemistry

 STORY: Based on D.H. Lawrence’s last work, the controversial 1928 novel, ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’ is the story of Lady Constance Chatterley’s (Emma Corrin) audacious affair with her estate’s gamekeeper Oliver Mellors (Jack O’Connell).

REIVEW: Owing to its explicit descriptions of sex and usage of words considered unmentionable in novels at the time, D.H.Lawrence’s ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’ was published privately in 1928 in Italy and in 1929 in France. The uncensored version of the book was published in the UK only in 1960, after a controversial trial challenging obscenity laws.

The film opens on the wedding day of Constance Reid or Connie as she is called, and Sir Clifford Chatterley. As Clifford’s father toasts to the newly weds, he emphasizes on how there can now finally be a Chatterley heir. Clifford, however makes it clear that an heir is not the purpose of his marriage. It is, of course, love.

The day after the wedding, Clifford has to leave for the war. And as Connie writes in a letter to her sister Hilda (Faye Marsay), nothing is same after the war. Clifford returns paralysed from waist below. And the couple move from London to their quiet estate in the country.

Once there, Clifford gets busy writing what he hopes will be a well received novel. And Connie finds herself as Clifford's full-time caregiver, as he insists he cannot have anyone else do what she does for him. While Connie takes on her new role as sincerely as possible, her life in the estate soon leaves her feeling drained and isolated. As loneliness creeps in, she starts missing the London life.

Stifled by Clifford's unwillingness to let her go anywhere away from the estate, Connie starts to take off on long walks around. Sometimes pushing Clifford along on his wheelchair. And it's during one of these outings that he suggests to her that she must try for a child through another man, because the people expect an heir from him. 'As long as he is the right sort', he adds, saying he trusts her to make the right choice and not get emotionally invested in the person. He asks her to treat it 'like a visit to the dentist', adding that the act of sex is actually just mechanical. And as long as nobody knows of it, the child will grow up as the Chatterley heir. Connie is aghast and hurt at Clifford's suggestion and given his indifference to her feelings about it, it begins to draw a wedge between them.

As her walks become her only source of solace, she soon strikes up an acquaintance with the estate's gamekeeper, Oliver. And as one thing leads to another, she finds herself drawn to him. The contrast between them is apparent, while Oliver is the rugged sort, mostly prefering to keep to himself, Lady Chatterley is evidently sophisticated, social and elegant (we do however get a glimpse of her rebellious side on her wedding day when between drinks, she discusses having a German lover before the war, with Hilda).

What starts as a burst of passion gives way to a full-blown love affair as Connie and Oliver fall for each completely.

But why this will be a problem, underlines Lady Chatterley's Lover's other theme - the class divide. Oliver Mellors would never be acceptable to Clifford as someone who could father an heir to the estate. But for Connie who has been living by Clifford's rules, this is an act of not just following her own heart but also defiance.

Staying true to the central theme of female sexual freedom and expression, there are a series of steamy scenes of lovemaking, including full frontal nudity. In fact, in a moment of passion, rebellion and pure abandon, the two frolick naked in the rain, completely immersed into each other. Most of their lovemaking is in the fields, among thick grass, seemingly carefree, without the fear of being found out. It's raw and untamed, just their feelings for each other. The cinematography (DP Benoit Delhomme) and the costumes (Emma Fryer) enhance the delicate mood of the film.

Emma Corrin (seen before this as Princess Diana in The Crown season 4) and Jack O'Connell share a scorching chemistry and the film, with a plot that has now been adapted several times, soars on their strength. Corrin's eyes speak for themselves, giving way to a range of emotions. The music is lilting and haunting (Isabella Summers), adding to the feeling of isolation and passion. As Mrs.Bolton (Joely Richardson) puts it 'this is a love story'. And in director Laure De Clermont Tonnerre's adaption (screenplay by David Magee) the lovers have an ending readers have perhaps hoped for and anticipated.

'Lady Chatterley's Lover' makes for a sensuous, passionate affair, an adaptation certainly worth watching.