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.