National/World Editor
“To be a Holmes you must find your own path. I now see that being alone doesn’t mean that I have to be lonely. My life is my own. And the future is up to us,” said Enola Holmes, and the camera panned up.
With incredible actors, an entertaining plot, and plenty of funny moments, the film Enola Holmes is the perfect feel-good, feminist movie to add to your Netflix must-watch list. Enola Holmes, a book series written by Nancy Springer, inspired the movie, which came out on Sep. 23. The film features the well-known acting talents of Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin, Helena Bonham Carter, and Millie Bobby Brown, as well as up-and-coming actors like Louis Partridge.
The film centers around Enola Holmes, played by Brown, Sherlock Holmes’s teenage sister. The movie starts with the disappearance of Eudoria Holmes, Enola and Sherlock’s eccentric, independent, and stubborn mother. The disappearance of their mother forces Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes to return home to take care of their sister, whom neither has seen in years.
Right off the bat, it is abundantly clear that Enola does not have a good relationship with her brothers. Out of the two, she has less in common with Mycroft, who wastes no time informing Enola that she will be attending a boarding school to become a proper lady. Enola strongly dislikes Mycroft because of his misogynistic and demeaning attitude towards her.
Instead of accepting her dull fate, Enola figures out the clue her mother has left her and sets out on an adventure to solve the mystery and find her. While on her journey, she becomes entangled with Lord Viscount Tewkesbury, played by Partridge, a young boy running away from his unhappy life at home. Shortly after they meet, Tewksbury and Enola find out that someone is trying to kill him. Enola’s compassion compels her to make sure the boy survives, leading to a strong friendship that lasts throughout the course of the film.
In a massive plot twist, Enola eventually solves the second mystery in the film, figuring out who wants to kill Tewksbury, saving her friend’s life, and outsmarting her older brother Sherlock. Enola also reunites with her mother, revealing how the two mysteries intertwine.
There are talks of a possible sequel due to the enormous success of this first installment. Speaking about a second edition, Brown stated, “There’s more of the story to be told. The story isn’t over yet. She isn’t grown up, there’s no conclusion. I think she’ll forever be someone who is always evolving, but there’s definitely more to be shown on screen.”
While the film had some corny and cliche moments, the overall effect of the movie is powerful. Enola Holmes is a feminist film about a teenage girl who learns and grows by defying expectations. Along with other female secondary characters, Enola and her mother show that women do not need to meet societal stereotypes to be successful and happy. The film is guaranteed to put a smile on any viewer’s face.
(Sources: Deadline)
Categories: Culture