The most recent Jane Eyre film starring Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender is my all-time favorite adaptation of Charlotte Bronte’s classic novel. Not only does it have great acting, a beautiful look and the perfect dark, romantic atmosphere, it has the most stirring music that entirely captured my soul. After my first viewing of the film I immediately looked up the composer and learned that it is Dario Marianelli, an Italian who has been scoring films for nearly 20 years. He won an Academy Award for scoring the music for Atonement and was nominated this year for Anna Karenina (he lost to Mychael Dana for Life of Pi). He also scored the 2005 version of Pride & Prejudice with Keira Knightley. I own all four of these soundtracks and turn to them repeatedly when I am driving or just relaxing at home. They have become part of the soundtrack of my life.
His compositions are entirely suited to each of the films he works on, yet there is something distinct about his style that is constant through each score. I don’t know much about music, but I know that I connect to the romantic, passionate, whimsical and breathtaking music that he’s created to accompany some very lovely films.
You can hear some of his pieces on Youtube (I cannot get a Youtube video to embed here for me no matter what I do).
Do you have a favorite soundtrack or film composer?
I hope you all have a wonderful Easter weekend. I’m looking forward to spending tomorrow with my family, especially my little nieces and nephews.
A Certain Fondness 
Marianelli’s score for Pride and Prejudice is one of my all-time favourite CDs! I also enjoyed what he did for Jane Eyre (though I’m not as enthusiastic about the film as you are – they bungled the end!).
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I love the Pride & Prejudice score – it is beautiful and energetic. I think a few things were bungled in the Jane Eyre movie, but I really loved it anyway 🙂
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What an interesting blog post! I loved learning about the composed for the film Jane Eyre, which is one of my favorites also. And he did the soundtrack for Pride and Prejudice, I didn’t know that. I remember enjoying the soundtrack for Emma with Gwyneth Paltrow. I will seek out the music for the films you mentioned and play it my car, just like you. Happy Easter!
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I love driving to movie soundtracks – they seem so much more calming than anything else, especially in rush hour traffic!
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I want to check these scores out now. My daughter and I keep singing the songs from Les Miserables after going to see the film. Happy Easter, by the way!
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I didn’t get to see Les Miserables at the theater so I am eagerly awaiting it on DVD. The songs are completely addicting.
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Hope you had a lovely Easter! I adored this adaptation, but have to confess I didn’t take much note of the music – I was pretty wrapped up in the story. I’ll have to have a listen, and likely I’d notice it more this time. I like movie soundtracks too, though only have a couple, they’re difficult to get sometimes. I would love the Harry Potter ones, though, and Pirates of the Caribbean. Obvious and easy choices, perhaps, but I love the layering in those and the use of orchestras.
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The Harry Potter scores are genius and really help to make the movie. I usually don’t take too much note of the music in films, but the Jane Eyre score completely attracted me.
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