Pride and Prejudice (2005)

 Joe Wright's "Pride and Prejudice"

Although it is now considered a classic by a whole generation of people, Joe Wright's 2005 adaptation of Jane Austen's 1813 novel "Pride and Prejudice" was met with skepticism upon its original production. The reason for such skepticism was due to the enormous success of a 1995 BBC television adaptation starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. It is predominantly clear, however, that Wright's romantic vision of Austen's novel is now the most adored version. 

The film stars Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet, one of five daughters to the Bennets, a family living in 18th century rural England. The seminal focus of the family, especially the mother, is to get all of the young women of the house married. For Elizabeth, romantic questions revolve around the mysterious Mr. Darcy, a highborn man who comes across as snobbish and dismissive. However, their relationship grows through the tense and strained interactions. 

I have seen "Pride and Prejudice" many times over the past couple of decades and what I notice is that I enjoy the experience more each time. There are many subtleties in the performances, in Deborah Moggach's adapted dialogue, and in visual cues. I think the film works as both an insatiable romance and a comedy of manners, although the latter distinction is not typically assigned.  

I think the romance of the film is undeniable, otherwise it would not be so highly praised. Most of the romantic inclinations in the film stem from the lack of outright sentimentality. The restrained forthright by both Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy creates the atmospheric tension throughout, resulting in a release by the final declarations of love. 

This sense of restraint is not exclusive to the romantic elements, but to its comedic ones, as well. I found the film to be far funnier this go around than the previous times I watched it. I think this is due to the subtly of the film's humor. What's outright humorous is the way in which sentiments are expressed and even more so, not expressed at all. 

I think that this restraint points to the overall themes present in the film, and thereby its source material. The characters are never able to truly be individualistic, given the oppressive social restrictions placed upon them. These restrictions stem from economics, as it is crucial in the film to acquire a marriage from someone of an elite class. This is where the inherent drama lies: in the push and pull between economic status and individual freedom and desire. 

I was completely struck by Wright's direction. I have not particularly considered Joe Wright a filmmaker of immense note, but considering how he managed to capture the beauty found in "Pride and Prejudice," I feel as though I must reconsider. He also manages to include sequences of long takes in which cameras glide through rooms and corridors of parties without cutting or editing, making them feel far more inhabited and intimate. 

It comes as no surprise, therefore, why this film is as adored as it is. Its a visually beautiful rendering of 18th century England, while also embodying a more romantic view of the original novel. Its endless romance and humor found in the innumerable subtleties makes it something endlessly watchable. Which is remarkably true, given how popular the film has become in the streaming era of film.