Although Anne and Wentworth long for one another, many factors constantly sway them to reevaluate the repercussions of their union. As the storyline progresses we see Anne rekindling her love for Frederick Wentworth while considering a relationship with other suitors. Now, if you’re looking for some more compelling Jane Austen adaptations and classic period dramas, look no further! We’ve put together a curated list of movies that should suit your taste.
Pride and Prejudice (2005) The period drama Pride and Prejudice brings Jane Austen’s magnificent world to life with its passion, wit and raw emotion. In keeping with the setting and era of the popular novel, it is a creative interpretation of a beloved classic, and Mr. Darcy continues to be the archetypal romantic hero for many Jane Austen fans. It is indeed one of the handfuls of classic romance movies which hasn’t aged poorly and, like the novel on which it’s adapted, is timeless. It is a classic love story that takes place in class-conscious Regency-era England near the end of the 18th century. The five Bennet sisters—Elizabeth, sometimes known as Lizzie, Jane, Lydia, Mary, and Kitty have all grown up with a clear understanding of their mother’s obsession with finding them rich husbands and safeguarding their fates. However, Elizabeth is vivacious and bright, and her devoted father encourages her to embrace life from a wider perspective. Lizzie holds Mr. Darcy accountable for causing Jane’s misery when Mr. Bingley abruptly leaves for London. However, a situation involving Lizzie’s youngest sister Lydia prompts Lizzie to reflect on the extent of her connection with Mr. Darcy. No one manages to escape the subsequent wave of emotions as the Bennet’s are driven to recognize what matters most in life. Although ‘Pride and Prejudice’ revolves around marital themes, it also addresses one of society’s grave issues- class conflict. The rationale behind its enormous appeal is that, despite being set in a different historical period, it resonates with the viewers even today.
Atonement (2007) The celebrated novel by Ian McEwan was adapted by Joe Wright into a compelling drama with outstanding performances and masterful direction. Despite not being a war movie, the storyline of the movie is set around World War II, which has a significant impact on the mood and the characters. This movie isn’t action-packed; instead, this is a character study with a gently developing plot. Young and destitute Robbie Turner is in love with Cecilia, the daughter of his master. Out of envy, after Briony Tallis frames her older sister’s boyfriend for raping her cousin, she radically alters the fate of many lives. After the star-crossed lovers have separated, Robbie with a heavy heart joins the military to compensate for his wrongdoing. Robbie is driven almost to the brink of insanity as he seeks to get back to Cecilia, due to the dangers of war, the unavoidable remorse of killing a complete stranger, and being apart from his one true love. The central character of Atonement, Briony has spent her entire life feeling guilty about what she did as a child and about the lack of strength she exhibited as an adult by never attempting to undo what she had done.
Fire Island (2022) Fire Island, a feel-good movie by Andrew Ahn, revolves around a group of gay men who spend a week at a popular gay destination on the coast of Long Island, New York. Pride and Prejudice gets a contemporary, LGBTQ+ twist in this romantic comedy, yet it manages to stay remarkably authentic to the classic novel. Fire Island narrates the story of best friends, Noah and Howie, as they travel to Fire Island, the haven for the queer community for an entire week attempting to navigate the difficulties of falling for one another in a gay community. The couple quickly faces sentimental and intimate challenges caused due to classism and ethnic differences. The movie explores fundamental themes of companionship, passion, and the importance of familial connections. The movie appeals to audiences all over the world as it makes the storyline more relatable among people of diverse identities by beautifully celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.
Anna Karenina (2012) ‘Anna Karenina’ is a nineteenth-century British historical romance movie directed by Joe Wright and adapted from Leo Tolstoy’s classic literary novel that bore the same name. The protagonist, Anna is wed to a senior statesman named Alexei Alexandrovich Karenin. Anna embarks on a journey to Moscow, in an effort to persuade Princess Dolly to forgive her brother Stiva. In Moscow, she comes across Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky, a charming and affluent cavalry officer. Everyone in their immediate vicinity experiences life-changing events when Anna and Alexei start an affair. Anna experiences grief and despair as a result of their attraction. It is understandable why many ardent Tolstoy fans were in complete awe of this movie. One cannot discount the filmmakers’ courage in attempting to adapt arguably one of the most cherished works of literature. Every scene is an aesthetic treat owing to its stunning cinematography. The roles played by different artists in the movie is outstanding, particularly Law who simply dominates every scene in which he appears.
Emma (2020) Emma is a witty, engaging version of Jane Austen’s classic novel. Emma elevates the book’s classic love narrative for modern audiences with aesthetic choices that distinguish it from the primary sources. The movie adaption revolves around the pampered upbringing of Emma Woodhouse, a self-proclaimed cupid, who finds herself intervening in the love affairs of her friends. However, her blunders and misjudgments in love enable her to discover her own potential spouse. Anya Taylor Joy’s portrayal in this Georgian-era melodrama is fantastic. There are numerous elements to drool over, including the aesthetically spectacular cinematography, the soundtrack, the exquisitely created costumes and more.
Metropolitan (1990) The 1990 movie adaptation of Metropolitan, directed by Whit Stillman, is claimed to be partially inspired by Mansfield Park. Metropolitan, like Mansfield Park, uses the literary genre comedy of manners, however, it is a modern interpretation of it. Stillman expands the scope of the Austen effect beyond the author in order to uncover historical facts regarding racial, social, and ethnic politics. The storyline of ‘Metropolitan’ revolves around the Rat Pack, a bunch of New York creme de la creme (upper crust) friends in Manhattan whose lifestyle and social attitudes alter when a newcomer joins them during the debutante season. They also attend balls and gatherings at each other’s residences, clothed in smocks and white ruffles, and engage in heated arguments about social rank and movement. Stillman encapsulates the significance of Austen while also utilizing the 1980’s teen subculture as a point of departure. Metropolitan, like Mansfield Park, is predominantly a tale about unrequited love. While Audrey, our contemporary Fanny, is smitten with Tom, our Edmund is smitten with his unfaithful ex-girlfriend, Serena Slocum. Following a few plot twists, Tom learns Audrey is something Serena cannot be, which is a wonderful person with strong moral principles who genuinely cares about him. Audrey, ironically, is a huge Jane Austen admirer, and when she tells Tom that her personal favorites are Mansfield Park and Persuasion. Tom, who has never read the books sadly disagrees with her. If you’re hunting for an improbable adaptation of the literary legend’s writings following ‘Persuasion’, this timeless masterpiece should be on your watch list.
Love & Friendship (2016) Love & Friendship, adapted from Jane Austen’s lesser-known epistolary novel Lady Susan, is almost as humorous as her books. Lady Susan is an epistolary novel, which means it is recounted solely through letters the characters send to one another. Despite being based on Lady Susan, the movie was made under the fictitious name of Austen’s juvenile story ‘Love and Friendship’. The movie has a great understanding of her impeccable sense of humor and it never fails to serve as a reminder that Jane Austen was, at her very finest, an incredible giggle-fest. The witty movie follows newly divorced Lady Susan in her bold and crafty attempts to find herself and her daughter suitable, affluent spouses. Being suspected of being involved with Lord Manwaring, an aristocrat who has divorced his wife has made Lady Susan Vernon, a young widow, the subject of controversy in her social circle. Due to her lack of resources and a house, Lady Susan stays with her friends and family. In order to safeguard Frederica’s fate along with her own, she has plans to wed her daughter off to Sir James Martin, a wealthy landowner, and a bumbling fool.
Northanger Abbey (2007) Perhaps due to the top-notch humor seen in her other novels, Jane Austen’s 1817 book “Northanger Abbey” is distinctive in her body of work and it stands out among her other classics. The coming-of-age storyline of Northanger Abbey has fewer interpretations in comparison to her other mainstream contemporaries, with just a few genuine adaptations. The fascinating movie adaptation directed by Jon Jones is arguably the most renowned. Felicity Jones plays Catherine Morland, an Austen protagonist who thoroughly enjoys escaping into her imaginary world of Gothic fiction. She has intensively read novels on gothic themes, and so she frequently daydreams about gloomy dungeons and Gothic fortresses. The storyline unfolds as young Catherine accepts an invitation to Bath in order to visit some relatives and friends. She discovers that John Thorpe and Henry Tilney are infatuated with her. Catherine’s impressionable youth and naivety rise to the surface when she is asked to remain at Northanger Abbey, and she starts to confuse reality with the Gothic romanticism of her favorite novels. There is a hint of romance even though the author turns her disdain for Gothic books into a blatant satire in this body of work. This is one of your finest options if you’re hunting for more underappreciated Jane Austen adaptations after ‘Persuasion.’
Far From The Madding Crowd (2015) The poetry “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard,” penned in the 18th century, is the origin of the title Far From The Madding Crowd. It revolves around the central character Bathsheba Everdene, who attracts Gabriel Oak’s attention. Although she turned down his wedding proposal, they still keep running into each other. Like many other period dramas, this movie offers a magnificent setting for its lyrical romance, and Carey Mulligan gives a heartfelt performance to the audience. Fans adore it for taking a profound look at youth, trust, first loves and despair. And it’s no surprise that viewers are touched when a good soundtrack is added to top it off.
Wuthering Heights (1939) If you’ve loved Emily Bronte’s classic literary novel “Wuthering Heights” and want to see the story come to life on screen, you should undoubtedly choose the 1939 movie version of the novel directed by William Wyler. The romantic period drama movie’s stunning cinematography beautifully depicts the mood and tone of Bronte’s Gothic storyline. The plotline centers on the tragic and gloomy romance involving Cathy, an orphan who’s adopted, and Heathcliff, who shared a home with them as children. Heathcliff is extremely disappointed when Cathy marries her wealthy neighbor despite their passionate relationship. Heathcliff, now an extremely wealthy man, visits the village after a long period and reignites their romance. The intense, somber movie with lyrical writing beautifully captures every bit of the bleak drama from the classic novel. So there we have it, our 10 Movie picks to keep you busy after watching Persuasion on Netflix. What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!
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