PERSUASION

UK/US, 2022, 107 minutes, Colour.

Dakota Johnson, Cosmo Jarvis, Richard E.Grant, Yolanda Kettle , Simon Paisley Day, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Stuart Scudamore, Henry Golding, Mia McKenna-Bruce, Nia Towlel.

Directed by Carrie Cracknell.

Persuasion was last published novel by Jane Austen before her death. It has not received the cinema and television treatment as the more popular and well-known novels. However, there have been television versions.

The central character of the stories, Anne Elliot, a self-assured young woman, especially after the disappointment of the breaking of her relationship with Wentworth, a naval man who has gone to sea. Anne lives in one of those contradictory families, like the Bennetts of Pride and Prejudice… Anne’s extravagant father, played by Richard E.Grant, the haughty sister, a married sister who is a hypochondriac thinking only of herself and rationalising everything she does as if she were altruistic! Anne is unexpectedly played by American, Dakota Johnson – and with Anne’s assurance.

The action takes place some years after the break between Anne and Wentworth, difficult financial times for the family, visits to her hypochondriac sister, a welcome into another family, the Musgraves. There is also a visit to the seaside town of Lyme Regis, and some wonderful beach sequences as well is cliff sequences and walking parties climbing cliffs.

And, Wentworth returns from the sea, awkward in the presence of Anne and she with him, feigning a distance in their awareness of each other. This is awkward for Wentworth, Cosmo Jarvis, who has achieved a solid reputation in the Navy, but is looking for some kind of future. One of the Musgrave sisters, after an accident, becomes infatuated with him, an engagement.

In the novel, Jane Austen tells the story from Anne’s narrative of events and characters but also insinuates Anne’s subjective point of view. The screenplay uses the device of Anne breaking the fourth wall, talking to camera, talking to the audience, ironic remarks, raised eyebrows, some asides, so that the audience becomes complicit with Anne’s perspective. This seems to be a good 21^st-century device for communicating Jane Austen’s characterisation of Anne. However, there have been some objections that along with the main 19^th century dialogue, there is the introduction of many 21^st-century words which will seem very much out of place to those who have read the novels but will be easily accepted by those who have not.

Direction is by Carrie Cracknell, a well-acclaimed theatre director.

1. Lasting popularity of Jane Austen’s novels? The range of versions over many decades? Cinema, television? This film made for television?
2. England in the beginning of the 19^th century, the settings, country estates and homes, the countryside, society, Lyme Regis and the coast? Costumes and decor, scenic atmosphere? Musical score?
3. The story of Anne Elliott, the casting of Dakota Johnson, her British performance and accent? Anne’s background, her being father, target of satire? Her self-centred sister? Her arrogant sister? And in the middle, observing?
4. Jane Austen’s technique of Anne telling the story but also confiding her point of view to the audience? This film and the cinema device of breaking the fourth wall, and continually glancing at the camera, at the audience, information, ironic touches, reactions?
5. The background of Anne Elliott and her love for Wentworth, his background, the families attitude towards him, the breaking of the relationship? His going to sea, successful naval career, his return? His moving into society, the welcomed by the Musgrave family, and then having to deal with his return, concealing the past friendship, gradually manifesting? Louisa, her infatuation, the family response to Wentworth? The meals, conversation, the tension between Anne and Wentworth?
6. Issues of money, homes, Sir Walter, moving out, visiting his daughter, flamboyant manner? The contrast with his daughters, the older, following her father’s attitudes, attitude towards Anne? The married daughter, her husband, children, her self-centredness, the various episodes and her self-indulgence?
7. The arrival of Mr Elliott, the family connection, the buildup to his coming, his marriage, relationship, the possible inheritance? His behaviour, Anne and her reaction? And the revelation of Louisa’s infatuation with him?
8. Lady Russell, society status, her friendship with Anne, the meetings, continued advice?
9. Wentworth, in himself, the past, the Navy, caught in the times and behaviour expectations, Louisa, the walks on the cliffs, conversations, engagement? Yet his devotion to Anne, the conversations?
10. The arrival of Mr Elliot, manner, style, past, claim to be the heir, attraction to Anne, to Louisa?
11. The resolution of the emotional problems, Louisa and Mr Elliott, Anne and the breaking down barriers, a future with Wentworth?
12. Criticisms of the modernisation of the attitudes and some of the vocabulary choices? Too modern for Jane Austen literary tastes? Yet bringing Jane Austen to contemporary taste?