Amazon.com video review:
Movie adaptations of Jane Austen's classic novels were all the
rage (relatively speaking) in the mid-1990s. Clueless updated
Austen's Emma,
which was more conventionally adapted in another version (Emma) starring
Gwyneth Paltrow. Emma was produced
yet again, this time for British television, as were a celebrated
miniseries of Pride and Prejudice and this splendid film of
Austen's Persuasion.
Persuasion is the story of a love that survives eight years of
dormancy and the frustrating obstacles of class prejudice in 19th
century England. Anne (Amanda Root) is captivated when she meets the
dignified naval officer Capt. Wentworth (Ciarán Hinds), but she
is advised to discourage his romantic overtures because he has no
fortune. They meet again eight years later, but now Capt. Wentworth
has become wealthy while Anne's father is in reduced circumstances in
the wake of reckless extravagance. A series of circumstances ensue
which prevent Anne and Wentworth from expressing their mutual and
inevitable love. The film's success depends entirely on the subtle,
superb performances of Root and Hinds. The film builds slowly,
occasionally leaving you wondering if anything at all is going to
happen. When it does, you realize how carefully crafted a film this
is, and the final result is grandly rewarding. --Jeff Shannon
