Wuthering Heights is a classic. If you went to public school in America you probably had to read it. The Brontës with their heart pounding romances on the moors were required reading. The problem is, I don’t remember a thing about it. That was many decades ago, I admit, but all I recall is some guy named Heathcliff was supposed to be a big deal.

Wuthering Heights has been remade and reworked dozens of times, but until Emerald Fennell wrote and directed a version of the story, it wasn’t on my radar to watch. What I’m trying to explain is that I went into this without a lot of opinions about the plot, the characters, or the romance. Fresh eyes.

Emerald Fennell gave us a dark and moody world where women had to survive by finding “a suitable match,” not by finding love. A world where women had no power. Not even women who grew up wild and free romping on the moors with a loved friend and companion brought into the home by her drunken father. Yet love could not be denied. Love would find its way, but tragically.

Cathy (Margot Robbie) grew up in a crumbling estate run by her father, Mr. Earnshaw (Martin Clunes). When a rich family moved nearby (5 miles across the moors) Cathy had dreams of finding a marriage to the rich Edgar (Shazad Latif) there. But she was in love with Heathcliff (Jacob Elordi), who worked for the family and had been her childhood playmate.

Edgar asked her to marry him. She said yes, but then thought she’d rather stay with Heathcliff. Unfortunately, Heathcliff heard she said yes and took off. Cathy waited a year for Heathcliff to come back. She finally gave up and married Edgar.

Cathy took her faithful servant Nelly (Hong Chau) and moved into the plush world of Edgar and his ward Isabella (Alison Oliver). Cathy was dressed like a princess in jewels and crowns and fancy gowns. She was pampered and fed. After two years of unpleasant sex with Edgar, she was pregnant.

Then Heathcliff showed back up. Looking wealthy. That leads into the forbidden love part of the story.

Soon Cathy and Heathcliff are meeting for steamy sex. Often in the fog and rain outside. Or in the powerful winds on the rocky cliffs. Rarely in a room. But at last they have found each other and love.

When Heathcliff finds out Cathy is having Edgar’s baby, he marries Isabella in revenge and treats her horribly.

It doesn’t end well. I won’t spoil the ending in case, like me, you are going into this film with fresh eyes. In a world like this one, true love can only end in tragedy because society doesn’t allow for things like that. Of course, it’s the woman who pays the price.

Is this film a worthy remake of the eternal classic? I don’t have an opinion on that. I thought the film was sensuously filmed to create a mood and a world meant to evoke emotion. It worked beautifully in that regard. It told a story about class and the subjugation of women that serves as a reminder of what was and what could be. As such, I thought it was in keeping with Emerald Fennell’s oeuvre as a director.

Wuthering Heights is streaming on Disney+/Hulu and HBO Max or for rent from Prime Video. If you watch it, please share your thoughts. The comments are open.