A romantic drama nominated for four Oscars and hailed as a ‘cinematic classic’ is on TV today.
Based on a literary novel that The British Museums, Libraries, and Archives Society named one of 30 books every adult should read before they die, Pride & Prejudice will air on BBC Two today (January 11) at 6:35 pm.
Originally released in 2005, the film is one of at least 17 adaptations of Jane Austen’s 19th-century novel. It stars Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen as the outspoken Elizabeth Bennett and charming Mr Darcy.
The story stays true to its source material and follows Elizabeth, who meets a rich bachelor named Mr. Darcy and instantly dislikes him. As she learns more about his character, she grows fond of him and the pair develop a romantic connection. However, they are forced to confront their differing social standings before the relationship can bloom.
Helmed by Joe Wright, who made his feature film debut with the drama, Pride & Prejudice gained critical acclaim upon its release. The flick received four Academy Award nominations in the Best Actress, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design and Best Original Score categories.
While the film was based on a beloved story, it was released ten years after the BBC’s six-episode version, which was widely considered the best screen adaptation of the Austen novel.
Despite this, viewers were captivated by Wright’s rich cinematography and the award-worthy performances of its leading actors.
Sharing their verdict on Rotten Tomatoes, one fan said: “I’ve seen every version of Pride & Prejudice and didn’t think anything could be better than the BBC’s 1995 Jennifer Ehle/Colin Firth 6-hour version. Welp, this tops that. Absolutely gorgeous, beautifully acted, and even though it was only a couple of hours long, it didn’t feel like anything vital was skipped. Just a complete stunner!”
Another person penned: “It’s a great movie, surely one to become a cinematic classic.” On IMDB, over 77,000 moviegoers have crowned the period drama with 10/10 ratings, with one dubbing it “A timeless adaptation of a timeless Jane Austen novel.”
The reviewer went on to explain: “This adaptation is, for lack of a better word, a BRILLIANT achievement that keeps you actively involved from the first scene to the very last scene, just about consuming you with aching romance and it is sprinkled with humour and intelligence.”
Sharing their own praise, another film fan said: “This quintessentially English film is utterly charming – a very traditional interpretation of Jane Austen’s 1813 novel that manages to entertain, amuse and even move.”
Pride and Prejudice airs today (January 11) on BBC Two at 6:35 pm