On September 23, “Enola Holmes,” based on the Enola Holmes book series by Mary Springer, was released on Netflix. The movie stars well-known actors and actresses, including Millie Bobby Brown, Helena Bonham Carter, and Henry Cavill. Sherlock Holmes is a name many are familiar with. A lesser-known name in the Holmes family is Enola Holmes, consequently because she wasn’t in the original Sherlock Holmes series. The film is told by Enola as she tells the story of her early life and her quest to find her mother, Eudoria Holmes. 

“Enola Holmes” starts with Enola narrating her early life while growing up with her mother and is mainly set in 1900 when Enola is 16. On her 16th birthday, her mother disappears, and she makes it her mission to find Eudoria and bring her home. Along the way, Enola runs into a boy named Viscount Tewkesbury, Marquess of Basilwether, who is running away from his family. Tewkesbury wants to and is meant to take his father’s place in the House of Lords, but his family wants him to join the army instead. Enola quickly discovers that someone is trying to kill Tewkesbury. While Enola was taught by her mother to not get distracted from her quests, she still decides to help him. With people hunting down Tewksbury as well as Enola, both work together to solve the mysteries in their lives. 

The movie has many action-packed scenes that kept me on the edge of my seat. Enola narrates her adventure by turning to face the audience numerous times. This created an engaging experience since it seemed like I was part of the movie and she was talking to me as an audience member. I thought this was a very creative way to film it, and I haven’t experienced a movie that was produced like that before. 

This film presents a strong, young female lead who breaks barriers in her time. Enola Holmes is not a typical young woman in England in the early 1900s. She disregards learning how to be a “proper” lady and acts and dresses the way she wants to. While raising Enola, Eudoria taught her science, history, sports, including martial arts, but most importantly, that Enola could be whoever she wanted to be. Throughout the movie, there is a “Reform Bill” that is brought up many times. Although it isn’t specifically stated what the “Reform Bill” will do, I was able to infer that it had something to do with women’s suffrage and equality. In the end, Enola plays a big part in getting the bill to pass, which is a significant step towards equality. 

“Enola Holmes” clearly displays the importance of family. Eudoria and Enola’s mother/daughter relationship exhibits the great impacts lessons from parental figures can have. Several times throughout the film, Enola remembers the advice and lessons her mother taught her when she was growing up. Enola’s relationships with her brothers, Sherlock and Mycroft, are also essential. Mycroft is rude since he sees Enola since he is unsatisfied by the way she was raised. He tries to send her to finishing school, so she can get a “proper education.” There is a clear tension in their relationship, and Mycroft seems so self-absorbed that he doesn’t pay attention to anything Enola has to say. Sherlock, on the other hand, is caring towards his younger sister. It is evident he disagrees with Mycroft and how he handles Enola’s education and future. As Sherlock tries to find Enola and sees everything that she has accomplished on her own, he is proud. The dramatic difference between the ways her brothers treat her distinctly differentiates between the ways she views them. Enola trusts and respects Sherlock, but she disregards what Mycroft has to say about her. 

Overall, I would recommend “Enola Holmes.” I think it was very intriguing and exciting. The film brilliantly portrays the talent it’s actors have. This movie is one that displays the extent a family is willing to go for one another.