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Guess who Lizzie dances with at the ball—none other than Mr. Darcy (Matthew MacFadyen)

And roaming through this countryside is the lovely and long-necked Keira Knightley. In recent years we've seen her do sporty in Bend It Like Beckham, damsely in Pirates of the Caribbean, and deadly in Domino. She's like all the Spice Girls rolled into one multi-talented actress-to-watch. As Lizzie Bennet, she's just the right balance of self-assured and anguished—an island of sanity in a family of loons and a society caught up in gender and class expectations. Rosamund Pike is poised and pretty as sister Jane, though she's not as obviously reticent as Austen purists would probably like her to be. Matthew MacFadyen seemed all wrong as Mr. Darcy in the opening scenes (at least Colin Firth was cute under all that stoicism), but by an ending shot when he crosses a fog-filled meadow to get to Lizzie, I've never been more attracted to a sturdy, stodgy Englishman. The supporting cast is highlighted by Donald Sutherland, who delivers a wonderful father-daughter exchange with Lizzie toward the end of the film. And Judi Dench just elevates any movie she graces.

The film certainly stands well on its own merit, and will most likely find the harshest critics in ardent Austen and A&E fans (or husbands who get dragged to the film, for whom this genre simply isn't their cup of tea). Sure, the film can't go as deep on issues of class and gender in a mere two hours. But what it lacks in depth of plot and character development (at least to the degree that Austen fleshed these out in her book), it more than makes up for in luminous visuals, subtle thematic statements, and fine acting. And those die-hard Austen aficionados need only to remember one of Jane's recurring literary themes of not jumping to hasty, prejudiced conclusions (did we learn nothing from Lizzie?). In other words, keep an open mind, judge the film on its own merit, pay attention to the details (especially the birds!), and you'll find a lovely period piece that surely will stand the test of time.

Talk About It

1. Make a list of who's prideful and who's prejudiced in the film. How do these character traits affect their relationships? How do they change these attitudes throughout the course of the movie? How do pride or prejudice affect your relationships?
   
   
2. How are shyer or more introverted characters misunderstood in the film?
   
   
3. After Charlotte gets engaged, she tells Lizzie she's a burden to her parents and says, "Not all of us have the luxury of romance." Do you think she was wise or foolish to accept the proposal? Why? What role should things such as need and romance play in choosing a mate?
   
   
4. After Jane makes an agreeable match, her mother says, "I knew she couldn't be so beautiful for nothing." In what ways has the role of beauty as currency for women changed over the years, and in what ways is it still the same?
   
   
5. In what ways do the presence of birds, spinning, storms, veiled faces or other visual elements mirror the plot? What do these visual devices underscore or communicate?

The Family Corner

As the PG rating suggests, this is a safe bet for the whole family. Whether your kids can sit still for a two-hour period piece/romance/drama is your call.

Photos © Copyright Focus Features

© Camerin Courtney 2005, subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

If you don't like to see the prose of world's most beloved romance novelist altered, you may find reason to complain about the way director Joe Wright and screenwriter Deborah Moggach have abridged Austen's Pride & Prejudice. But if you're content to see classics abbreviated so you can escape the movie theater in less than three hours, well, you may join the chorus of critics raving about this film.

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