I just finished re-watching the 1994 Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, Return of the Native, starring a younger and breathtakingly beautiful Catherine Zeta-Jones. I first saw this movie when I was 14 years old, and Catherine was one of my first experiences with being absolutely ensorcelled by the beauty of a woman. She is a true Faerie Queen in the film. I remember when I first taped it on VHS and paused the tape to sketch a drawing of her with her hood raised. I still have the artwork.
At one point in the film, there's a lovely vision of Eustacia (CZJ) walking by a riverside with flowers in her hand. The combination of blue gown, bridge, flowers, and river immediately struck me as familiar.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwYXXO9EGeW_6DcYXEdyjvojYeuyyXWe_3VRxM-o_Kay3qq-mCyXis-lf4ZOpcpQ9xqNnCEE3IEjVyCdGtXsxMZYJ0G2l04Ig2kdzLPmCt6PLB29r4XP3r1diOVx9MtiYWJv0_VAEAi8/s400/Image1.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5NW3IfMZpuiRnj9SFl-esacRc5eHQpYIXJ-MRj88gURc5ItUSI4Dk1m8TG7CoLHtLex_I149yaL4BsA9MgXsJ8pSE7sT5rcFmAntBOo_sX0JMf3FD4fDONRu-XrqXN1tVAmuT2YxV0E/s400/waterhouse_ophelia_03.jpg)
Coincidence? Probably. However, considering the similar fate the character of Eustacia experiences to that of Ophelia, I also would not be shocked to find out that it was an intentional homage or foreshadowing.
At any rate, it's a beautiful film full of romantic visuals that any lover of the Pre-Raphaelites would likely enjoy.