F-0207

Title:

Persuasion

Category:

S

Produced:

1995

Country:

UK / France / USA

Released:

Film: Sep 1995 (USA)
DVD: Feb 2000; Sep 2004
VHS: Nov 1996

Director:

Roger Michell

Writer:

Jane Austen (novel); Nick Dear

Actors:

Amanda Root (Anne Elliot); Ciarán Hinds (Captain Frederick Wentworth); Susan Fleetwood (Lady Russell); Corin Redgrave (Sir Walter Elliot); Fiona Shaw (Mrs. Croft); John Woodvine (Admiral Croft); Phoebe Nicholls (Elizabeth Elliot); Samuel West (Mr. Elliot); Sophie Thompson (Mary Musgrove); Judy Cornwell (Mrs. Musgrove); Simon Russell Beale (Charles Musgrove); Felicity Dean (Mrs. Clay); Roger Hammond (Mr. Musgrove); Emma Roberts (Louisa Musgrove); Victoria Hamilton (Henrietta Musgrove)

Description:

Eight years earlier, Anne Elliot, the daughter of a financially troubled aristocratic family, was persuaded to break off her engagement to Frederick Wentworth, a young seaman, who, though promising, had poor family connections. When her father rents out the family estate to Admiral Croft, Anne is thrown into company with Frederick, because his sister is Mrs. Croft. Frederick is now a rich and successful Captain, and a highly eligible bachelor. Whom will he marry? One of Anne's sister's husband's sisters? Or will he and Anne rekindle the old flame? (John Oswalt)

In 1814 England, 27-year old Anne Elliot lives an oppressive life with her father, Sir Walter Elliot of Kellynch Hall, and her elder sister Elizabeth, both of whom are incurable snobs. Eight and a half years ago, Anne been persuaded to refuse an offer of marriage from the man she loved, a young naval officer of no position or fortune. Now, after the Napoleonic wars, Captain Wentworth has gained both rank and money, and chance has thrown them together again. Anne finds herself confronted with thoughts of might-have-been as she watches Wentworth court her brother-in-law's sister, Louisa. But an accident causes Wentworth to realize whom he truly cares for, and he follows Anne to Bath. But her cousin William (the heir to Kellynch Hall) is also pursuing her and is rumored to be engaged to Anne. And she must overcome this last obstacle before she can persuade Captain Wentworth as to the true nature of her affections. (Kathy Li)

Movie adaptations of Jane Austen's classic novels were all the rage (relatively speaking) in the mid-1990s. Clueless updated Austen's Emma, which was more conventionally adapted in another version (Emma) starring Gwyneth Paltrow. Emma was produced yet again, this time for British television, as were a celebrated miniseries of Pride and Prejudice and this splendid film of Austen's Persuasion. Persuasion is the story of a love that survives eight years of dormancy and the frustrating obstacles of class prejudice in 19th century England. Anne (Amanda Root) is captivated when she meets the dignified naval officer Capt. Wentworth (Ciarán Hinds), but she is advised to discourage his romantic overtures because he has no fortune. They meet again eight years later, but now Capt. Wentworth has become wealthy while Anne's father is in reduced circumstances in the wake of reckless extravagance. A series of circumstances ensue which prevent Anne and Wentworth from expressing their mutual and inevitable love. The film's success depends entirely on the subtle, superb performances of Root and Hinds. The film builds slowly, occasionally leaving you wondering if anything at all is going to happen. When it does, you realize how carefully crafted a film this is, and the final result is grandly rewarding. (Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com)

The young British director Roger Michell has done what always seemed impossible. He has made a Jane Austen movie that is never pretty and only occasionally charming; instead, it is troubled, astringent, and touched with melancholy-not unlike the novel. Amanda Root, almost out-mousing Isabelle Huppert in reticence, plays Anne Elliot, who once turned down Frederick Wentworth (Ciaran Hinds, who has the profile of a Regency miniature) and has regretted it ever since. They come together again-in the country, by the sea, and on the streets of Bath-and you can guess the outcome. But Michell somehow tenses a simple narrative into suspense; the camera catches every glance between the former lovers and probes every scene for signs of hope. Anyone expecting verbal Ping-Pong and unspotted elegance will be disappointed: Anne's dress gets caught in the mud, and her sister, Mary (a fine turn from Sophie Thompson), talks through a mouthful of pie. With Corin Redgrave as Anne's monstrous father, and Fiona Shaw as the worldly wife of an admiral. (Anthony Lane, Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker)

Language:

English

TT:

107 min / 104 min (DVD, VJS) / 106 min (DVD)

J.S. Bach's Music:

Sarabande in D from French Suite, BWV ___

Sarabande in B from French Suite, BWV ___

Format:

Film: Color, Dolby Digital
DVD: (Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Widescreen, NTSC, Region 1) | (Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Limited Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC, Region 1) | (NTSC, Region 2)
VHS: (Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC) | (PAL)

Company:

Film: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC); France 2 Cinéma; Millésime Productions; Mobile Masterpiece Theatre; WGBH
DVD: Sony Pictures
VHS: Sony Pictures

Comments:

Watch selections:

Buy movie at:

DVD: Amazon.com | Amazon.com [+ Book] | Amazon.com [Region 2]
VHS: Amazon.com | Amazon.com [PAL]

Source/Links: IMDB
Contributor: Aryeh Oron (November 2007)