I find I like the BBC’s versions of classic literature better than nearly any other production company’s version, and this is especially true of the movie adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Persuasion.” I’ve tried other renditions and this one is the best.
Amanda Root stars as Anne Elliot, the middle daughter of Sir Elliot, a man with little sense who likes to spend money, and far too much of it. Anne has tried to use her good influence to keep him from completely wasting away his fortune, but has had little success. Things have gotten so out of hand that the family must now move and take up a cheaper residence in Bath – hopefully now they’ll be able to stick with a budget. Anne approves of the plan, but her father and sisters hate the idea. They like their outrageous lifestyle and don’t want to give it up.
Eight years ago, Anne was engaged to Captain Fredrick Wentworth (Ciaran Hinds). She was talked out of her engagement by a friend, and now, who should want to rent the Elliot’s home but Captain Wentworth’s brother-in-law. It’s only a matter of time before they meet up, and it’s obvious there’s a lot of hurt still in existence. Anne still loves him, he doesn’t understand why she wouldn’t marry him, and they can hardly speak to each other, their emotions are strung so tight.
Meanwhile, William Elliot, a cousin to Sir Elliot, arrives in Bath and begins to court Anne. She could do worse, but her heart is still attached to Captain Wentworth. The scene in which they finally reconcile is very sweet, even if we do wish we’d had just a little more of a satisfactory ending. I’m rather one for passionate kisses myself, and those weren’t quite done in those days, although they do produce a rather nice, sedate pucker.
The action takes place internally. We have to envision what they are each feeling and feel it right along with them – the movie doesn’t spell it out for us. The story has been called one of Jane Austen’s most subtle, and I agree with that in that you do have to read between the lines. An emotional journey if you’re willing to plug your imagination in and go along for the ride, you’ll enjoy this masterpiece from the pen of Jane Austen and the filmmakers of the BBC. This film is rated PG.
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