There’s a New Detective in Town and Her Name is Enola Holmes

Enola Holmes (2020)

Director: Harry Bradbeer

Writer: Jack Thorne

Cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin and Helena Bonham Carter

*Spoilers Ahead*

Enola Holmes (Movie Poster)

Enola Holmes, a movie by award-winning director Harry Bradbeer is based on the young-adult novel series of the same name by Nancy Springer. The movie is about Sherlock Holmes’ lesser-known sister Enola (Millie Bobby Brown), whose name spelled backwards is “Alone”, as referenced many times in the movie. Enola is a peculiar girl not unlike her name. Her mother, Eudoria, brings her up in a non-traditional way that enables Enola to be her own person and to not fit into the generic mould that 19th century society had created for women.

On the morning of Enola’s 16th birthday, she discovers that her mother Eudoria (Helena Bonham Carter) has disappeared. Her older brothers, Mycroft (Sam Claflin) and Sherlock (Henry Cavill) return home after many years to see their younger sister all grown up. Mycroft is appalled at the state of his home and Enola’s not so lady-like personality. He demands, as she is his ward, for her to go to a finishing school where she will learn to become a “proper lady”. Enola is angry at Mycroft for forcing her to live a life she does not want and is disappointed at Sherlock’s lack of support. She then discovers (the night before she leaves for school) that her mother has left behind clues to her whereabouts. She decides to embark on a mission to find her mother and runs away to London early in the morning, disguising herself as a boy by wearing Sherlock’s old clothes. On the train, she meets Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge), a young Lord who is running away from his family after realising that he did not want to follow the path his uncle and mother have planned for him. The pair then form a very predictable bond while trying to escape a man trying to kill Tewkesbury.

While searching for her mother, Enola tries to solve the mystery of why Lord Tewkesbury's life is in danger. While doing so, we see Enola’s detective skills that easily challenge Sherlock’s.

The movie is set in the year 1884, when England was at the beginning of a new era, with the expansion of voting rights. The movie also revolves around the theme of feminism, with the usage of symbols like the corset being forced upon a woman, representing society's mould of how a woman should behave. Enola’s upbringing by her mother who tells her, "Paint your own picture, Enola. Don't be thrown off by other people”, and "There are two paths you can take, Enola: yours, or the path others choose for you,” are also prime examples of feminism. Enola is taught to fight and not embroider. She also saves Lord Tewkesbury multiple times.

A still from the movie. From left to right: Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill), Mycroft Holmes (Sam Claflin) and Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown)

Millie Bobby Brown who plays Enola Holmes brings a lot of life to the character. Her performance in the movie seems effortless and is completely different from her character in the award-winning show Stranger Things. The movie solely rests on her shoulders and she has managed to do justice to her character. Henry Cavill’s interpretation of Sherlock Holmes is refreshing and different from previous depictions of Sherlock Holmes. Despite not having a lot of screen time, Cavill leaves a lasting impression on the audience. The ending of the movie suggests that the movie could become a franchise which is really intriguing to Millie Bobby Brown fans. The brother-sister chemistry between Brown and Cavill is spectacular which makes the possibility of future movies more interesting as fans would love to see the relationship between the siblings grow. The direction and editing of the movie is brilliantly executed and the script has some really good dialogues. The comedic element is subtle and the energy level in the movie is high.

Enola Holmes is a light-hearted, adventurous, thoughtful and fun movie to watch. However, it does take a sudden violent turn in between, which completely contrasts the playfulness of the movie. Running for two hours, the movie drags a little, and the element of mystery is lacking. Despite this, the performance of the actors, the dialogues, and the humour present in the movie makes this a good choice for a late Friday night with family or friends.

Editors: Tenny Ann Thomas, Dainty W