Enola Holmes

To my mother, 

If Sir Conan Doyle's work continues to be a source of inspiration for literature, film, series, comic books and other entertainments, it is because the character he invented, Sherlock Holmes, is one of the most beautiful literary creations. Four novels, the best known of which is The Dog of Baskerville (1902) which has been adapted for film and television and fifty-six original short stories constitute a true universe capable of moving, thrilling and above all making London known to many generations of readers and lovers of cinema and series.

This literary heritage has also been the source of a series of novels written by Nancy Springer featuring Enola Holmes in several novels and comic strips. For all those who adored the excellent Sherlock series featuring perfectly set characters and focusing more on the psychology of characters and situations with multiple twists and turns, the film Enola Holmes is a true success and should have deserved a movie release as the plot, characters and situations and especially the comments of Enola Holmes gives this film a very special aura. To bring such a literary heroine to life, it was necessary to find a young actress who was as comfortable in action scenes as in comedy and drama, and the choice of the young actress Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven in the cult series Stranger things and Godzilla: King of Monsters (2019)) proved to be the perfect choice and she illuminates every scene in the film. In the same way the supporting cast is not to be outdone with Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes and Helena Bonham Carter as their mother.

The potential of Nancy Springer's literary series dedicated to Enola Holmes can be felt from the very first minutes of the film in which we discover a world we know in which Sherlock Holmes is no longer at the center of the story but a secondary character who has many points in common with his younger sister. While Sherlock Holmes and Mycroft Holmes left their mother's home (their father having passed away), Enola continued to live with her mother, who not only developed her intellect but also taught her chess, the art of fighting and above all the art of overcoming important problems by using perfect reasoning and knowing how to stay ahead of her opponent both in battle and in her future actions. Unfortunately, when her mother disappears and her two brothers resurface, Enola Holmes has no other choice but to escape the future. Her brother Mycroft has decided for her to run away not only to find her mother but also to keep her freedom and independence. Using disguise to go unnoticed, her first investigation will also bring her face to face with a hunted young lord and a vast conspiracy.

By adapting Enola Holmes' first adventure, The Double Disappearance (The Case of the Missing Marquess)) (2007), the screenwriter Jack Thorne (the Skins series, His dark materials: at the crossroads of the worlds) not only manages to transcend the first novel of the adventures of Enola Holmes but brings a real psychological and romantic depth to this character. In the same way the perfect rhythm of the film as well to move, as to make laugh or shiver while following the many twists and turns of this young heroine. In the same way even if the actor Henry Cavill remains with Christopher Reeve, it is necessary to recognize that he gives life to an excellent interpretation of Sherlock Holmes and forms with Millie Bobby Brown and Sam Claflin an attaching trio.

The same care is felt in the inspired realization of Harry Bradbeer (Start-up series (2000), Killing Eve (2018) ...) also proves to be an excellent choice to give life to this adventure setting a universe as the first Enola Holmes adventure. The great care also given to Daniel Pemberton's music gives this film a very special aura and makes us let ourselves be totally immersed in this film. Given the many books on Enola Holmes we hope that this film will be a huge success so that the other books can be adapted in other films to come.

Enola Holmes
Directed by Harry Bradbeer
Produced by Mary Parent, Alex Garcia, Millie Bobby Brown, Paige Brown
Written by Jack Thorne
Based on The Enola Holmes Mysteries by Nancy Springer
Starring Millie Bobby Brown, Sam Claflin, Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham Carter
Music by Daniel Pemberton
Cinematography: Giles Nuttgens
Edited by Adam Bosman
Production company: Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Pictures, PCMA Productions
Distributed by Netflix
Release date: 23 September 2020 (Netflixà
Running time: 123 minutes

Viewed on September 21, 2020 (Netflix)

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