Emma — PBS The Complete Jane Austen
Sunday, March 23rd, PBS’s Masterpiece Theater aired Emma (with Kate Beckinsale as part of The Complete Jane Austen series. I’ve seen this particular version of Emma several times — I have it on tape and need eventually to get the DVD version. I do have Emma with Gwyneth Paltrow on DVD but don’t watch it as often — not because it isn’t a decent version but just because I find the A&E version closer to the novel.
No matter which version of Emma you enjoy, all are based on the novel Emma by Jane Austen. Emma is a young girl, living alone with her father. Her sister is married to the brother of a neighbor, Mr. Knightly. Emma’s companion has recently married and now lives a half a mile away with her husband. Emma is a bit bored and thinking herself bright, intelligent, and wise in the ways of the world, she decides to befriend a woman of about her own age with no family but educated and mannerly and find her a husband. Of, course Emma is nowhere near as smart as she thinks she is and of course misunderstandings happen and through them growth occurs.
First I have to confess that Emma is one of the Austen novels that I haven’t read yet. While both movie versions listed above are interesting. I do think that I like the one that PBS chose for The Complete Jane Austen series. Here Emma is believable as the young lady who runs her father’s household and believes that she knows all there is to know about life. She’s confident that there is nothing she can not handle. And, of course, it’s that conceit that is at the core of the story. For, as you probably suspect, Emma must learn that there is more to being a young gentlewoman than being aware of her place in society. Emma has been a big fish in a small pond and when Jane Fairfax comes to live with her Aunt Bates — Emma learns that others may not be her equal in status but beyond her in sense, education, and talent.
The film allows us to see Emma’s flights of fancy as she leaps from a phrase or hope to full blown accomplished fact in seconds. She jumps to conclusions with little fact and less thought but with each failure or disaster, she learns until finally she learns to look within her own heart.
Austen, in Emma, creates a girl who has just stepped into womanhood, and must find her way to sense and thoughtfulness. A story of growth and filled with scenes that will make you laugh, some that make you uncomfortable, and others where you can feel the pain meted out and received.
I highly recommend this version and I’ll try to revisit my impression once I’ve had the chance to read Emma.