Another story about the famous detective Sherlock Holmes has surfaced. This time, though, it isn’t yet another adaptation of the “timeless” Holmes, but rather the story of his younger sister. Based on the novels by Nancy Springer, the film takes us on Enola’s (portrayed by Millie Bobby Brown) journey to search for her missing mother, Eudoria Holmes (Helena Bonham Carter). Along the way, she helps a runaway lord (Louis Partridge) while outsmarting her older brothers, Sherlock and Mycroft (Henry Cavill and Sam Claffin respectively).
Enola Holmes aims to convey positive messages about women empowerment, individuality and freedom through a tale driven by 19th century England’s enthrallment by the women’s rights movement. However, the significance of the movement is only subtly referred to and may only be understood by someone with prior understanding about England’s history with the suffragettes. While the concept of women empowerment is alluded to, its exploration is relatively juvenile – which may be due to the relative youth of the intended audience. Other than the suffragettes, the film also attempts to explore the stereotypes of being a woman during the 19th century, through Enola’s brief experience at a finishing school. Subsequently, there was clear representation of how women were made to sexualize themselves for men, through corsets and hip enhancers.
The cast of film especially made this film interesting to watch. With Eleven (from Stranger Things) as Enola, Bellatrix Lestrange (from Harry Potter) as Eudoria, and Superman as Sherlock Holmes, it was stimulating to view their versatility and success in bringing this story to life. Many versions of Sherlock Holmes have been seen over the years, and Cavill’s interpretation did not fall short. While depicting the detective’s cold, savant-like side, Cavill’s representation also showcases his compassion - all while not overpowering the main character of the film. Brown is a radiant, witty, and poised Elona. Although Carter does not share as much screen time, it was refreshing to see her in a different light as well. As a mother, she was fun, playful and encouraging. However, her role in the movie was diminished under the presence of multiple storylines.
Every storyline present was intriguing and captivating. However, none of them were explored to their fullest potential. The audience did get to see Enola as a detective, similar to her brother Sherlock. Furthermore, her wits and intelligence were alluded to from the start, compelling the reader to believe that her sleuthing abilities were to be a big part of the plot. That was not the case. Her skills were only seen while aiding the runaway lord. This distracted her from her initial mission which the audience was led to believe was finding her mother. This may be because of the perpetual need to include a romance in every plotline with a female lead, even one radiating women empowerment. Ironic, right?
The character representation in the film was the best part of my experience. It was enjoyable to see familiar actors take on different roles and radiating new personalities effectively. The storyline itself, unfortunately, was juvenile. However, it is important to note that the intended audience were juvenile, and for them, this is certainly worth a watch.
Written By: Rhea Kapoor
Edited By: Akrit Agarwal
Designed By: Lavanya Guha
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