Enola Holmes
Directed by: Harry Bradbeer
Runtime: 123 minutes
Enola Holmes arrived at a time on Netflix when I really needed it. An ever-patient Sherlock Holmes fan, I had given up any hope of seeing BBC’s Sherlock Holmes again and thought it might be too soon to get any other iteration. However, after learning that the stories and characters of Sherlock Holmes have been given to the public domain in 2014, it was exciting to see Enola Holmes on my Netflix screen. Self-isolation and the general rise of streaming services have created some great online content with star-studded casts and with Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill and Helena Bonham Carter, Enola Holmes fits this category nicely.
Enola Holmes follows the story of Sherlock’s lesser known sibling. If you are a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle purist, this may bother you, as her character was non-existent in the original novels. However, Millie Bobby Brown’s portrayal of this character was so charming and genuine. The film occasionally has Enola break the fourth wall and while this can sometimes be a little frustrating or disconcerting to some viewers, Millie’s portrayal was so sweet and endearing that you feel like you are communing with her like an old friend. With some of the traits of her older brother, Enola is clever and good at deduction, but unlike Sherlock she is able to find a good connection with others and become the ‘finder of lost souls’. It is through her compassion and determination that she becomes a compelling character. Throughout the film, perhaps because of force of habit, I kept expecting Sherlock to come in and save the day when Enola was in danger. However, it was always Enola who either fought or thought her way out of these dangerous situations and ‘forged her own path’. This was a great choice for the film as it gave you time to fall in love with her and accept that this wasn’t just another Sherlock Holmes movie.
Enola’s journey in the film was an unexpected one. When watching any film set in an older time period as a viewer it is easy to become swept up with the story and forget about historical accuracies or issues facing the time. Enola Holmes seems to enjoy addressing these issues head on with a young female character growing up in a society that has certain expectations about her life and worth. Never before in a Holmes story was the issue of gender equality quite so present and it is due entirely to the presence of a female Holmes. Would Mycroft or Sherlock face any of the same issues as Enola during this time period? It’s easy to forget that Sherlock in so many ways was and is a privileged character during this time and it was an excellent exploration on the other side of society. This was further demonstrated with some empowering female characters such as the fighting instructor and her mother. Similarly, without spoiling too much of the climax, the film also offers an interesting conclusion on the main antagonist that offers a little more thought on the over-arching issue.
Let’s face it, we all love Henry Cavill. He’s beautiful, charming and sweet (and if you’ve ever seen his online videos – he’s kind of a nerd!). However, Cavill’s portrayal doesn’t really offer anything new in the way of Sherlock Holmes and unfortunately there have been a lot of portrayals to compare to. However, I believe that his version of Sherlock does offer a warmer version that seemed necessary for the plot to succeed. Enola is his little sister, so Cumberbatch’s cold drug-addict version of Sherlock doesn’t work and nor would Downey’s roughened alcoholic. Cavill’s Sherlock, while still semi-detached, was kinder, softer and more in touch with the emotions of others. This could have been a deliberate choice of the film as this Sherlock could have been exhibiting the type of behaviour of a brother that a younger sister would look up to.
Millie Bobby Brown’s depiction as Enola Holmes is a refreshing deviation from the original Sherlock Holme’s while still offering the same clever detective storyline that makes you fall in love with Holme’s in the first place. Strong and empowering she still retains her femininity and carries the film strongly on her own.
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