'Pride and Prejudice': A Heartfelt Journey Through Film and Memory

I stumbled upon the 2005 movie "Pride and Prejudice" while browsing Amazon Prime for something meaningful to watch. Without any prior thoughts, I decided to give it a try. I had read Jane Austen's novel a long time ago, but I could barely remember the story, so watching the movie felt like hearing the tale for the first time. The film beautifully explores the consequences of love and the social differences of the late 18th century. Now, I feel like I must read the book again.

This English film is absolutely charming—a very traditional take on Jane Austen's 1813 novel that entertains, amuses, and even moves you deeply. First-time director Joe Wright has worked with TV playwright Deborah Moggach's script and a fantastic group of mostly British actors to give us something truly delightful. The camera work, the stunning countryside, grand settings, period costumes, and the beautiful Western classical music all show the deep love and effort that went into making this movie. Even after almost 20 years of release, I cherished every bit of it.

At the centre of this wonderful movie is the delightful 20-year-old Keira Knightley as the confident and sharp Elizabeth Bennett, or Lizzie, the second of five daughters her anxious mother is eager to marry off. I hadn’t seen any of Keira’s movies before, but now I’m going to seek them out. Keira Knightley’s rise has been meteoric, and she’s perfectly cast here. She plays Lizzie so strongly, yet with moments of vulnerability as she learns from her pride and prejudice. She defends her inferior family, even though she knows their shortcomings, and she’s ashamed of her younger sisters' behaviour. But when she rejects Darcy's advances because he belittles her background and later realizes that the very person she defended is a villain who eloped with her silly sister, the shock of it all is palpable. Despite everything, she finds the strength to welcome him into her family.

I also loved Matthew MacFadyen as Mr. Darcy. The cast is filled with brilliant British actors like Brenda Blethyn as Lizzie's irritable mother, Tom Hollander as a small clergyman looking for a wife, and Judi Dench as the intimidating Lady Catherine. Donald Sutherland, as Lizzie's wise father, is also outstanding.

Brenda Blethyn's portrayal of a worried mother was so natural and true that it constantly reminded me of the social fabric of our own country. Even today, the pressure to marry off five grown-up daughters is the same in Indian society. Nothing has changed. I remember seeing the same pressure on my cousins when I was growing up—marriages often depended more on the groom's financial status than anything else. The love between the father and daughters in the movie felt so similar to what we experience here. There’s a deep, immense love for the father, but a slight hesitation to embrace him fully. Every scene, every emotion, every movement was depicted so perfectly, so touching—it brought tears to my eyes.

The film’s score, theme, and cinematography are exceptional. Though I initially disliked the first few shots as they felt crude and basic, I gradually started to appreciate them, especially some of the long shots that beautifully captured the English countryside. The cinematography adds so much to the film’s quality, showcasing expressive medium shots, emotional long shots, and passionate close-ups, especially the two sisters murmuring under the duvet! Great shots and emotions flowed in every frame. The score of the film, the composers, and the beautiful instruments all add more magic and emotion to the story. The way music is used with the visuals evokes the emotions of each scene perfectly. While many scenes are contemplative, romantic, or thoughtful, the film also does an amazing job of including fun, energetic, and exciting moments. For a moment it was never boring.

Some viewers might argue that this is not the correct adaptation of the novel, and I agree to some extent. But we must remember that a novel is the creation of an author, while a film is adapted and created by a director. Both mediums are different, and so the way we judge them should be different too.