Persuasion #FilmReview #BriFri
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Last week, I reviewed the film Vita & Virginia. Tina couldn’t put down the book The Family Game by Catherine Steadman.
Jane Austen’s Persuasion has been adapted for British television four times, according to Wikipedia. A mini-series made in 1960 has probably been lost to history. The 1971 mini-series aired on ITV in April and May of that year — it was released on DVD in 2010, so lots of libraries have it. Two made-for-TV film versions were broadcast in the UK in 1995 and 2007 and broadcast on PBS in the US. I have vague memories of the 2007 version starring Sally Hawkins.
The new addition for 2022 comes from Netflix. It’s irreverent and modern in ways that have been heartily lambasted by Austen fans.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read Persuasion, so playing loose and fancy with the source material didn’t bother me. I enjoyed the 21st-century idioms and the way that Dakota Johnson, portraying Anne Elliot, broke the fourth wall — often to offer something snarky.
As far as I’m concerned, the best thing about this film was that my husband enjoyed it. He often falls asleep during period dramas, especially if they have a romantic plot. But he enjoyed this one, laughing frequently. That makes this an excellent choice for date night.
We both got a kick out of the scenes that were filmed in Bath, especially the ones in front of the Royal Crescent which we have vivid and fond memories of admiring during a walking tour of Bath.
The Royal Crescent in Bath. We saw this during our guided walking tour.
Visit Bath, which was such a helpful site when we were planning our trip, compiled a list of Persuasion’s filming locations in Bath. Condé Nast Traveller published a detailed article about other filming locations for Persuasion. I enjoyed that it mentioned other films that used these locations.
Have you seen Persuasion? What did you think?
I read the less than glowing Persuasion reviews but I actually enjoyed it. I thought they did a good job and a lot of the characters seemed very credible. I think a film is very different to reading a book. I did like the book and it was mostly about thinking rather than dialogue. I thought this production translated that.
We stayed in Bath in May 2019
Great review from you and I like Anne’s comment above. Have not seen this version and my husband is also likely to fall asleep during movies like this so, great to hear your husband enjoyed this one!
I brought you a book which is not awt in the British Isles but authored by a British writer.
I just read a favourable review in one of our Australian newspapers. They said “ Persuasion is a universal story: getting back with your ex after he got a promotion. Johnson’s Anne is the 19th-century cool girl, charming kids, men and dour-faced dowagers alike. She could be an Instagram influencer with her colourful wallpaper and bunny cuddling, talking us through her dysfunctional family and broken heart, while she wants nothing more than to read a book and chug a bottle of wine #relatable. “Don’t let anyone tell you how to live, or who to love,” she says, a quote that could almost come straight from Meghan Markle’s new podcast. And the painfully romantic line from Frederick’s letter, “you pierce my soul” still makes us swoon like the bodacious bodice-wearing babes of Austen’s era. While there’s zero chance The Da Vinci Code is getting remade in 2203 with a quirky modern twist, Netflix’s Persuasion proves the timelessness of Austen.” Hear hear 😉
That’s a fun review — thanks!