Watching Books: Pride and Prejudice
Often we read books and wonder what our life has become. We think about the story repeatedly and decide that we do not have enough with just the words the book gives us. We want to experience what those characters had experienced, we want to live their lives, or we want to watch the scenes play out. So, we turn to films where you can watch your favourite characters come to life and those scenes you love from your favourite books. Sometimes the actors might portray perfectly; sometimes, it doesn’t go well. I have decided to start a new page on my blog where I will review from a bookish perspective all those films that come from my favourite (or not so favourite) books, starting with Pride and Prejudice (2005).
To start Watching Books, I wanted to start with one of my favourites, possibly my favourite, film adaptation. Pride and Prejudice is one of those films I can watch a thousand times, even back to back, without ever getting bored. I have watched this film maybe 20 times, making it one of my favourites. This film has even beaten the source material.
"Pride and Prejudice" is a 2005 British romantic drama film directed by Joe Wright and based on the classic novel of the same name by Jane Austen. The film follows the story of Elizabeth Bennet (played by Keira Knightley), the second eldest of five sisters from a modest family in rural England during the late 18th century. When a wealthy and eligible bachelor, Mr Bingley (played by Simon Woods), arrives in town, Mrs Bennet (played by Brenda Blethyn), Elizabeth's mother, is eager to secure a husband for one of her daughters. Bingley soon becomes interested in Elizabeth's elder sister, Jane (played by Rosamund Pike), and begins courting her. However, Bingley's friend, Mr Darcy (played by Matthew Macfadyen), initially shows little interest in the Bennet sisters, particularly Elizabeth. As the story unfolds, Elizabeth and Mr Darcy engage in witty and sometimes heated exchanges, revealing their pride and prejudices towards each other. However, despite their initial dislike, they eventually come to realize that their first impressions were misguided, and their feelings for each other begin to change.
Firstly, Keira Knightley portrays Lizzy Bennet as no one could, she not only does that, but she shows how much she shines in historical pieces, making her one of the best actresses in the film. Matthew Macfadyen makes Mr Darcy come to life in the most beautiful way possible. He brings emotions to emotionless scenes where characters might not be saying anything, but with his eyes and energy, he expresses as much emotion as he does when he speaks.
Even side characters are incredible. From Lizzy’s mother to her sisters and father, they all become integral to the romantic story, where you root for them, hate them, and even see yourself in them.
The storytelling is superb. It tells the story with much more than the character’s dialogue. It is visually stunning, making it one of the most beautiful films in history. The book, which everyone loves, becomes a visual representation that creates a perfect translation but also creates a completely separated world from the book where you also want to be.
Finally, the music. Even if you are not enjoying the film, Jean-Yves Thibaudet will make you listen to his beautiful work of art. It tells as much or even more story than the film itself. It’s moving, it’s real, it makes sense, and it fits perfectly with the visuals in the film. I think that the film would be nothing without the music that stunningly puts everything together in one of the best representations of a book ever.