I was fortunate to hear about this wonderful movie from a coworker who was so kind as to lend it to me. I definitely plan on owning this film sooner than later.
I vaguely recalled hearing about the book that this movie is based on in another movie (The Lake House). I further learned more about the novel after learning about Jane Austen herself and her works. I confess that I have trouble reading Jane Austen due to the language. I can read Shakespeare but I cannot understand much of what Jane Austen is talking about without rereading and/or having cliff notes.
The basic plot of this excellent picture involves two former lovers Anne and Wentworth. For anyone who isn't aware of the novel it is worth mentioning that the novel Persuasion involves Jane Austen's "oldest" heroine. Anne is around 28 years old both in the novel and picture.
The audience learns through tidbits of conversation throughout the movie that Anne and Wentworth first met and fell in love when Anne was 19. At the time Wentworth was an "unsuitable" match due to Anne coming from a somewhat wealthy family and Wentworth being a lowly curate. As a result of family pressure, Anne breaks off the match and Wentworth leaves the area for parts unknown.
Fast forward eight and a half years and things have changed to say the least. Anne's family has fallen into debt and as a result they have to let their country house, downsize, and move to the more affordable but still socially acceptable Bath.
The audience quickly learns that Anne is not liked by her family probably because she is different from them in good ways. She is well read, well-spoken, respectful of course but still holds her own.
When the family relocates to Bath Anne's other sister who is a spinster like Anne decides to take a Mrs. Clay as her maid rather than Anne herself. She makes it a point throughout the film to constantly remind Anne by talking to Mrs. Clay in front of Anne that she doesn't like her sister Anne at all and that the least amount of time that she can spend with Anne is almost too much.
As it turns out when the family decides to relocate, they happen to let the house to an Admiral Croft and his wife. Mrs. Croft is Wentworth's sister of course. (Incidentally I say of course because if anyone is familiar with Jane Austen at all it should be remembered that new characters like Mrs. Croft who happen to be related to the protagonist's love show up at the beginning. Typical of Austen but still enjoyable. But I digress.)
She is either unaware of the near match between Wentworth and Anne or if she is aware she doesn't allude to it at all in the picture. Mrs. Croft and Admiral Croft turn out to be a very kind older couple who quickly warm up to Anne. Meanwhile Anne is sent to visit her married sister Mary as Mary is apparently ill and among her in-laws the Musgroves. For reasons that aren't expressed but still made clear to the audience both of Anne's sisters dislike the Musgroves.
The Musgroves are also a kind, warm family towards Anne. It seems that Anne is favored because the Musgroves recognize her as the good person that she is and recognize that Mary is basically a brat. While visiting with the Musgroves the Crofts come to visit and subsequently Wentworth also comes to visit.
Wentworth has by now become a captain in the navy. At first he is extremely cold and distant to Anne leaving both Anne and the audience to conjecture that he must hate her for breaking his heart. To add to the frustration and pain of Anne he seems to be interested in marrying either of the Musgrove daughters who happen to be younger than Anne.
So it goes that the audience follows Anne around as life happens and she helplessly watches Wentworth from a distance. Anne is for the most part accepting that as a result of her breaking Wentworth's heart she is bound to be spinster and she intends to be the dutiful daughter, faithful friend, and dependable person that she is. Through it all she loves Wentworth. As a result when other potential options crop up regarding marriage she doesn't consider them. Also it understandably never occurs to her that Wentworth could possibly still love her.
By the way I must say that Ciaran Hinds was exceptional as Wentworth in this picture. Like many others I'm sure, I am most familiar with Ciaran Hinds as a villain. He's very good at being a villain and he seems to enjoy it. For the more "modern" audience Ciaran Hinds has been most recently viewed on Game of Thrones as the king beyond the wall Mance Rayder. But I digress.
He was wonderfully dashing and handsome as Wentworth. He beautifully played the captain that was completely believable, not a "perfect" man at all, very human, very real, just excellent. I never thought that I could view him as the handsome hero but he was that and more. The way he was able to convey so much with looks and minimal dialogue at times was marvelous.
Anyone who is familiar with Jane Austen knows how this story plays out but still it is great fun even if it is predictable. I don't agree that it is a "Fairy tale for adults" as the cover intones. It seems very relevant now even though the fashions have changed, society's rules have changed, etc. That of course is the "magic" of Jane Austen and the secret to the continued enjoyment of her novels and the subsequent films made of them.
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