I finally watched Netflix’s version of ‘Persuasion’ and I really wish I hadn’t
‘May I suggest that if you haven’t watched the Persuasion trailer yet….DONT’
The message Sarah sent to me following wishing me a happy birthday. A new adaptation of my favourite Austen and the trailer landing on my birthday? It felt like a gift! Why wouldn’t I want to watch it?! But I trust Sarah and so I waited and waited and waited until the whole of the internet was already against this film that hadn’t even come out yet.
When I finally watched it, I realised why Sarah had advised as she did. I went on a WhatsApp tirade…
I essentially decided I wouldn’t watch the film.
Then when Sarah came to stay for the weekend and we were trying to find something to watch, she suggested that we watch it together so we had moral support.
What an abomination.
The 3 things that offended me most about ‘Persuasion’
Breaking the fourth wall
It made me want to puke. Every time Dakota Johnson looked at the camera any semblance of Anne Elliott left the building. It definitely felt like it was trying something different and unusual to hook people who loved ‘Bridgerton’, but it didn’t add anything, it just took.
Jane Austen’s novels are already funny. her dialogue, her characters, the situations, it’s all perfectly crafted for humour. In ‘Persuasion’ this is particularly at the expense of Mr Elliott (played by Henry Golding in this version with a totally different suave, handsome, charming take on the character) and Anne’s sister, Mary. Played by Mia McKenna-Bruce, Mary was a highlight of this movie, and so was Henry Golding. Mary was really exaggerated but it wasn’t campy or cringe and I really enjoyed her scenes.
The dialogue
It was weird inauthentic, modernised sass that was meant to be funny and sassy and clever, but actually it felt forced and out of place. Anne doesn’t and wouldn’t speak the way Johnson does, neither would Wentworth or Lady Russell - it didn’t fit. I’m not a huge stickler for historical accuracy, because it’s usually done well and it works, but it didn’t work here. When ever a sprinkle of the original dialogue from the novel was brought in, it felt out of place and wrong in the contexts that this film created.
The same happened with some of the things that the characters did - full on PDA, Johnson squatting and peeing in front of a tree only metres from other people IN AN AUSTEN ADAPTATION. I can’t. I fully lost my mind at that point…
The lack of chemistry
It was just so flat? Anne and Wentworth simmer with longing and pining and wanting and torment; you can cut it with a knife. But between Dakota Johnson and Cosmo Jarvis had nothing, not a single drop of chemistry. They also just had no facial expressions other than Johnson’s attempt at quirky, side-glance sass and humour. I didn’t believe in this epic love, and ‘Persuasion’ is my favourite ever love story.
I think it was this that bothered me the most. Anne and Wentworth lost everything that make them them in this adaptation and it lost of the heart of what ‘Persuasion’ is: a novel about resilience and strength of character, longing and wanting.
Don’t waste your time with this adaptation, regardless of how pretty it looks (and it is pretty), because the 2007 with Rupert Penry-Jones and Sally Hawkins is perfect and it’s ready and waiting for you.
The writer of this movie has threatened to remake ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and ‘Sense and Sensibility’ too, so riots at dawn?
And also, what was with the bloody rabbit?!
Written by Sophie
