Diandra Reviews It All- The Personal History of David Copperfield Is Magic!

Growing up, I never really saw my culture or nation’s heroes in academia. Pedro Albizu Campos was not a name that would be cited In American history, even when discussing its relationship with Puerto Rico, and Julia De Burgos’ poetry and prose would never be discussed and thus dissected like that of Walt Whitman or Shakespeare. Still, I loved all those poets and revolutionaries. Yet, it was not until I was older that I realized I was not apart of artists’ world, like Shakespeare or Charles Dickens; at least, not in a way that didn’t involve chains and bloodshed. Why am I saying this for a review on The Personal History of David Copperfield, out in limited theaters on August 28? Because in incorporating a diverse, multicultural and multiracial cast, the film invites people of color to see themselves in a narrative that might not ring true to their history, but rings beautifully to fantasy and humanity.

Dev Patel plays David Copperfield with “joie de vivre” that makes you want to text him for a night of beers and karaoke; something he does with friends in the film and used to be a common, side adventure we did before this pandemic. Patel is a total charm as a young man with so much zest and appreciation for living, despite life hiccups and tragedies. I mention his vivacity because, in the book, David Copperfield is boyishly charismatic and annoying, which is not the easiest thing to translate on screen. You then have to make your character the most likable guy to get things wrong, and prove to the audience that, like human beings, a character can grow better. Dev does THIS, and enraptures viewers with a performance that makes you want to see him grow, but helps you understand why he feels stuck. After all, who wouldn’t want to climb upwards socially? The real question for young Copperfield is how much are you willing to lose of yourself to rise in others’ eyes?

THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD | Official Trailer | Searchlight Pictures

Narrated by Dev Patel, as well, you gain an intimate bond with David that makes the film feel magical; as if learning to skip rocks is equal to joining Gryffindor. Add on the OUTLANDISH characters you meet, and Iannucci’s direction, and fellow writing with Simon Blackwell, captures Dickens’ penchant for absurd, memorable figures. The classic novelist knew how to make even the craziest character oddly lovable because they were still human. Thus, Tilda Swinton’s tour-de-force Betsey Trotwood, Aneurin Barnard’s charismatic James Steerforth, Hugh Laurie’s eccentric Mr Dick, Daisy May Cooper’s loving Peggotty, and Peter Capaldi’s optimistic Micawber are all stand outs. They can be strange and particular but their hearts, especially towards David, are palpably felt. Moreover, each character proves something that is true to both the movie and Dickens’ book: people are more important to your life’s journey than an actual path.

The Personal History of David Copperfield Featurette – First Look (2020) | Movieclips Trailers

For all the goals, ambitions, mistakes, and mishaps that David Copperfield sparks as he goes from an innocent boy to a dashingly, mischievous man, it is his loves and heartbreaks that transform him, especially Rosaline Eleazar as Agnes. She is the solidity he needs matched with the spark of visionary he desires in a partner, and seeing how they end up together, despite all whirlwinds, is a highlight of the film. Thus, the power of Armando Ianucci’s vision for The Personal History of David Copperfield is that some person of color is going to grow up and that be their first Dickens’ novel-based film; presuming “we” were always invited to enjoy his work and even be apart of it. Of course, once again, history has not been so dandy and delightful as David Copperfield’s interactions with white people in the 1850s, butt in the words of our Lorde “Let me live that fantasy!”