Joe Wright is not the first director to attempt to provide a cinematic version of Austen’s celebrated novel.  Two handfuls of adaptations have retold the story of Pride and Prejudice, yet Wright succeeds in delivering one of the best.  He remains true to the novel (despite its short format), while also capturing the social atmosphere in a genuine manner.  Besides applying the proper etiquette in a convincing manner, Wright makes sure that the film also looks authentic through details of muddy hems and the real class difference between people emerges through the actors’ costumes.  Wright also enhances the storyline with breathtaking scenery ranging from dewy dawns at the edge of the forest to death springing cliffs, which helps to artistically reveal the emotional and social situation of the moment.  Much of this is also thanks to the terrific cinematography in the film by Roman Oshin.

The opening shot displays the sun emerging above the tree line while the song of birds accompanied by a lone piano aurally enhance the scene.  The dawning obviously suggests in a symbolic way of a new beginning, as Pride & Prejudice is about to take its course.  In the very next shot, Elizabeth “Lizzy” Bennet (Keira Knightley) wanders a meadow while finishing a book.  The contrasting elements in these two sequential scenes provide a slight hint toward Lizzy’s delicate rebelliousness, which is augmented by her sisters tendency to remain at home while she gladly roam the outdoors by herself.  The slight social disobedience that Lizzy possesses presents the major reason why the story takes place at all, as all other female characters around them follow the traditional rules that govern them.

Lizzy’s footsteps lead her home where the story quickly begins to take form, as it becomes known that Mr. Bingley (Simon Wood) has arrived to the Netherfield Park and he collects a substantial annual income.  Along with the wealth he has a high-ranking social status and is single.  The mother Mrs. Bennet (Brenda Blethyn) rapidly begins to plan for her daughters to meet the gentleman, as her lot in life is to make sure that her daughters get married.  Meanwhile, her husband, Mr. Bennet (Donald Sutherland), leisurely goes about his business to study plants and insects, as all five of his daughters are preparing to meet the gentleman.  It is yet another subtle illustration of males’ acquired superior status due to a chromosome that eventually makes them men.

As the story unfolds, Mr. Bingley falls in love with Jane Bennet (Rosamund Pike) and he begins to court her. At the same time, Lizzy finds her heart crushed by Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen) who plays the status card against her, and Lizzy decides to hate him for all eternity.  Ellizabeth also learns about a family secret between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham (Rupert Friend), which only increases her contempt for Mr. Darcy.  In the process, Elizabeth learns that Mr. Bingley has abandoned his pursuit for Jane’s heart and hand.  Amidst of all this, Elizabeth also declines (something unheard of at the time) a marriage with her wealthy and distant cousin.  Instead the cousin marries her best friend, and the plot continues to thicken when she is invited to stay with her friend, as she also meets Mr. Darcy again who seems to have an ulterior agenda.

If the viewers have not read the book by Austen, the film will certainly present a deep appreciation for her literary cunningness.  The many side plots keep the audience intrigued while the focus follows whether the truly beloved will find one another.  Yet, underneath this overt love story, Austen presents a true image of a woman’s lot in life, which Wright skillfully captures.  Another aspect that makes this story unique is its deep understanding of human cognition besides the social message, which shines through its profound use of generalizations, assumptions, and preconceived notions.  Many of the cast members help bring out the many qualities in the script in a brilliant manner with the performing highlights in Keira Knightley, Brenda Blethyn, and Donald Sutherland.  Keira Knightly received an Oscar nomination her part as Lizzy, but I feel that Brenda Blethyn was robbed from a supporting role nomination, as the energetically scheming mother.  In the end, Pride & Prejudice presents an adaptation worthy of Austen’s literary dexterity, which entertains and offers contemplation to those who seek something meaningful.

DIRECTED BY

COUNTRY

France / UK

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