Hello,can you make an episode about the Filmversion sense and sensibility with Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet and Alan Rickman? (Maybe especially about Mariannes & Colonel Brandons Relationship) ? That would be so cool . Thank U Guys!! Bless you , all the best for you all & and greetings 😊
By the way, Emma has the single best historical costumes in any movie I've ever seen. Half of the outfits they have are direct museum copies, and the other half come from fashion plates. This is EXACTLY what people dressed like in 1815. They nailed it.
@sarasamaletdin4574 the first hair curling iron was made in 1866 so it's maybe 60 years off. not that they couldn't get curls beforehand. just maybe not so small as in Emma's case
@Sputterbugz The size of the curls isn't the problem. You can tell that her curls were done with a curling iron because the ends are straight, as you can't curl the ends around an iron without burning your hands and letting go of the hair. They're also a little bit too perfect looking, as rag curls tend to be more uneven when they are that small. But otherwise, the style is very close to historical hair, just using modern tools and techniques. The designer did say it was on purpose, though, as it's very hard to get historical hairstyles to look attractive to modern audiences.
I love how loving Emma's relationship with her father was, and she positively adored spending time with him. Even when Knightley proposes to her, she refuses to marry him if it means leaving her beloved dad. Knightley compromises by moving in with them so that they can both care for him.
And on this adaptation you do Not find the exasperation and the slight contemptuous ridicule with which she so often is displayed treating his eccentric behaviours
I have a slightly different take. I found her devotion to her dad admirable but I'm mindful that it could've easily become an enmeshed relationship. Having your husband come to live with you and your dad is hardly ideal. She was lucky that Knightly was amenable to that setup.
I don't see that relationship in the same light at all. I think it's the root cause to everything Emma does. I think she hates the situation and cannot ever show it. She's obsessed with match making because she's denied herself the chance of ever making her own because of darling papa. She's ends up being mean to her spinster friend because she's horrified of one day being like her friend, after her father has died: too old to marry anymore because no-one would have her, and nothing to show for her life other than some matches made in the past that nobody remembers. She genuinely loves her father, but deep down isn't happy with his wish that she shouldn't have a life of her own.
What is so painfull about the missus Bates incident is that she is actually the one person who thought of Emma the highest of them all, never saw any flaw in her, just as in her niece miss Fairfax. And of all the people Emma hurt, she hurt the most fragile one in all. And even then, she never blamed Emma
"But you are *always* kind." It settles on her like a lead weight. This is one of those forgivenesses that is worse because they're too easy about forgiving you and you realize you need to do better.
Yes! But I also think this compassion could be a sign of Mrs. Bates knowing she opened the door for that kind of behaviour towards her. Up until that point she is always self- deprecating, but when Emma is so rude to her, she realizes other people will actually agree with her. She really is hurt. She really has some pride. So maybe she acknowledges Emma's kindness (which she always tried to have for Mrs. Bates) because she was never kind to herself, so she knows they both were wrong in this situation. And also, she won't let Emma to continue to act like that. At least I would like to see it that way.
Ugh, yes. It's such a disgustingly wonderful knife-twist. Realising not just that you've hurt someone, but just how good and gentle and undeserving of that treatment your victim was. In a way, it's like Mrs. Bates is outplaying Emma morally, without even intending to. It's one thing to realise you've hurt someone, and it's another thing to try and make amends. But then your victim goes and forgives you anyway, proving they're better than you simply by refusing to hate you.
Such an interesting scene, because Emma could get defensive and be even more hardened/ashamed just because Mrs. Bates forgave her easily. Or she could accept that goodness and work to emulate it. It's really the moment that Emma sees she should be looking up to Mrs. Bates, in a way. I also agree that Mrs Bates being so self depricative is a flaw in itself that hopefully she learns to work on, but I've found that many people act that way to avoid censure from others
To me it's a little heart breaking because she doesn't see Emma as unkind because she truly thinks she is right about her. So it's not unkind..it's just true. I haven't seen the film personally, but I hope she grows as a person from there, realizing her own value ^^;
One thing I *loved* about this adaptation is how much the tongue-and-cheek filming style felt so much like reading the book. While I enjoy lots of Austen adaptations, I think they all take the setting and era far more seriously than Jane Austen ever did. Her writing is constantly poking fun at the absurdity of the world she's portraying, and I think this is the only adaptation I've seen that really captured her style.
Few adaptions seem to realize that most Austen stories are comedies before anything else. So it was pretty gratifying that this one so effectively communicated that.
I think Love and Friendship did a decent job at not taking the time & place too seriously. As opposed Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfeild Park, etc. which have a very romantic view of regency. This film is definitely better made, though.
it's actually pretty wild to me when i first saw this film and found out that it's Autumn De Wilde's debut feature i was like excuse me!? coz i agree! the whole thing was shot to perfection and i do think her being a photographer has lent a lot to her ability to stage and plan things well. so so beautiful.
That does explain a lot. I loved this movie because EVERYTHING is do delicate, yet so precise. The shots, the costumes, the set, the jokes, the editing, the lines. So. Much. Attention. To. Detail. Everything is important, and everything is a joy to pay attention to. This movie is a masterpiece and put so many other movies to shame.
Even the opening has a lot to say. She has the servants up before dawn to make a bouquet for Miss Taylor. In the greenhouse she is examining every single flower. "Not that one. This one." We know immediately that Emma is a spoiled, nitpicky girl with an over-inflated sense of of the importance of her own judgement. She's being annoying to the maid and butler just because she can and she knows she will be obeyed. It sets the tone for the rest of the movie and it's just a bunch of flowers.
@Lori Sews Stuff it also shows that Emma really does care for the people around her. She wants everything to be perfect for her old governess, and their conversation through the door shows a level of love, humility and honesty in Emma we only see glimses of until the end of the movie, where she has a lot of apologizing to do. Probably because Emma actually looked up to her governess. While she looked down at everyone else.
I saw an interview with her talking about how obsessed she became with every little detail on scene, down to which sheep would be historically accurate for that time and place etc and the whole time I was just thinking YES GIRL WE SEE IT. It is perfection. You can watch this movie so many different ways, paying attention to one little thing at a time and it is still so good.
I think an important thing to note about Emma's character is her inherent loneliness and it's quite sad in its own way. She seemingly doesn't have many friends or peers her age and of her social standing (unfortunately the classism does play an issue here), Mrs. Weston was her only confidante, and her father, while loving, has deep nervous tendencies and leaves the running of the household to her. Materially, she has everything in the world, and yet she had no companionship, no real friends to help guide her except for Mr. Knightley, but one person's voice of reason can often be drowned out by the entirety of Highbury praising you. To quench that boredom and loneliness, she takes to fulfilling herself and deriving joy from other people's lives by playing god in them. An addition that I personally love with Autumn de Wilde's 2020 adaptation, is at the start of the film how Emma is in her hot house selecting flowers for a bouquet, and says to the attendant about to cut one off "Not that one. The next." Off the bat, it establishes the power and standing Emma wields, but also how she insists on making the choices, and deciding who or what goes together, much like her real life match making. There are scenes of just Emma alone, bored, with no friends, trying to talk with her father, but then her father falling into his hypochondriac tendencies instead. Her family and acquaintances are her flowers, her hot house, her doll house (in fact the 2009 adaptation plays with that "people are her dolls" idea too), she mix and matches them to her choosing to create the perfect "bouquet", in an attempt to create scenarios where there is companionship/contentment in her town and life, where she doesn't have any personally. Not that that makes her actions okay, but I do think that's an interesting facet of her psychology.
I came to the comments to say something about Emma’s loneliness being the root of her behavior, but you have done it so much more eloquently than I ever could. She really does have no one “appropriate” so share her feelings with, and is desperate to “make” a suitable friend.
Fantastic reading of her character. One further detail to add is that Mrs. Weston was her governess. Her closest friend in the world was also paid to be there and filled in as a mother for Emma. Obviously, their friendship is real, but it is not a peer relationship. It may be time for me to reread Emma with this lens!
Thank you for this insight. I was going to add in a similar vein that Emma is very clever (= intelligent), probably moreso than anyone else around her. Her intelligence had already been cultivated to the extent possible for a woman in her era, and so she needed to find outlets for it. I only learned recently that Austen wrote Emma to be an "unlikeable heroine"; but I never found her unlikeable, and considering her backstory, I find her very relatable.
The picnic scene GUTTED me. Because you can see the INSTANT regret in Emma's face dropping, the hurt and heartbreak in Mrs. Bates' face, and the conversation coming to a screeching halt. Just absolute perfection.
That scene is so awful,I find it so hard to read it and see it in movies.we have all either done that to someone or seen it done.jane Austen KNOWS human interaction
When she decides that she can't say yes Mr. Knightly until after she has personally apologized and made things right between Harriet and Mr. Martin is when I finally believe that she has grown as a person and was not just shamed into an apology by her community. Also, her getting a nose bleed in the middle of Mr. Knightly professing his love to her cracks me up every time.
One of the things I love about the book is that Emma's saviour complex in part comes about by being the wealthiest woman in the area (and thus of course the best because that's how class worked/works), and partly because she's been managing her father's severe anxiety for so long. She's been parentified by her father and thus thinks she's much smarter and more grown up than she really is. This is also why she won't consider marrying because she worries about the effect her leaving would have on him. In the book she initially plans to not even tell her father she's engaged and only marry Knightly once he's dead. But Knightly is truely a lovely romantic lead and he actually offers to move into her father's estate so she won't have to leave him.
If you like that, I recommend looking up Arnie Perlstein's theory of a shadow story in Emma. Basically, he thinks all the characters are deliberately hiding their affairs from Emma, and she's left trying to navigate a society that is constantly lying to her about who and what they are. Though I do disagree with Mr. Perlstein on one point -- I think Harriet makes more sense as Mr. Knightly's illigitimate daughter. That's why he gets so angry about the engagement being refused. He picked out a husband for his daughter as is his right, and Emma's interferred. And he can't even tell her why it was wrong of her.
Emma is 21. It’s the opening line of the novel. She lived 21 years in the world with little to distress or vex her. But indeed she knows very little about relationships.
“Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her.”
I am older than her and I don't have that many friends or relationships either.... it's fascinating to see this character be shown on screen like that. Makes loners like me learn something from it as well.
I LOVE the Jane Austen=Aaron Sorkin comparison. People sometimes forget in the romance of it all how incredibly clever Austen's dialogue is. That's why my favorite adaptations keep as much of her dialogue as humanly possible. It's basically impossible to improve upon.
@@gadgetgirl02 I've heard similar. People think that because there are clergymen, calls, and a last name basis, that it must be very stuffy, but nothing could be future from the truth. Only issue with the Aaron Sorkin comparison is that it's the other way around. Aaron Sorkin is the Jane Austen of our day. 😂
That scene with Emma inadvertently hurting Miss Bates actually had me in tears. I've been Miss Bates in that situation with almost that exact statement, and I can tell you that hearing those words from someone you're friends with cuts you to the core. It doesn't matter how well intended the joke was, Emma hit on something that she shouldn't have.
The actress who plays Miss Bates is called Miranda Hart, and she's a BRILLIANT comedian! Years ago she used to have her own show on BBC called Miranda, which was very popular in the UK. It was a bit like Fleabag but way before Fleabag!
Finally someone else who made the comparison between Miranda and Fleabag! They are SO similar, honestly a great example of comedy changing throughout time
I remember when I realized what was about to come, I immediately said "oh no" and immediately covered my face and ears because I just can't watch it. It's the only part that I just CAN'T. The fall out, sure, no problem and even Knightley reprimanding her, definitely, but the actual event when she says it, I shudder and look away
"You can't be on a pedestal if you keep climbing down." -Jono I LOVE THAT. People might be tempted to soak it up when they're put on a pedestal. But some people choose to remain humble no matter what.
"When did you ever stop at three?" That line struck me so hard, and reminded me so much of what I hear. I recently was put on the same spot on a work outing, where we split the check evenly in three groups. First group had 5 people. Second group had 6 people. Third group had one person. That person was me. When I asked, how come I was separated as my own category I was told: "Well, you're the only fat one here. It would be unfair for anyone to evenly split the check with someone who eats as much as you do." Sometimes I sit and wonder for a couple of minutes, if she ever, just like Emma, realized just what she said and how deeply she scarred me forever that day.
Not that it would be an ok thing to say regardless, but that's not even how that works! It really grinds my gears how many people think that calories in = body weight, when there are so many other factors that determine a person's size (not the least of which being genetics, metabolism, and/or chronic conditions... you know, things people have literally no control over). Anyway. I don't mean to tell you things you already know, or make assumptions about your situation. My fiance's just been dealing with that kind of talk for years, so I get really passionate about it whenever it comes up. I'm so sorry you were treated so unfairly.
And there would be me asking "Oh, so you have a mathematical basis for that from the cheques, or are you just one of THOSE people?" At least you didn't have to pay for your rude coworkers, not that it's much consolation
Oof. I noticed the term "evenly" - that doesn't sound like you were paying for only what you ate. It's one thing if the crew decides everyone pays for their own meal, but to shame you and hit you with extra on the check is beyond rude.
Emma makes for an interesting character, especially as a female, in that she LIKES her life. She likes her status, her home, taking care of her nervous father, being an aunt. Miss Taylor becoming Mrs. Weston is the first ripple in the waters. Though she wanted her friend to be happy, her making a new home is sad for Emma, so she focuses on the power trip (that she's been on since she was a child) of being the cleverest person in most rooms she's in. When she sees that she wants to be with Knightly, it's to keep things as similar to what they've been as she can. By the end, she still like her life, & that life has changed little. She has changed.
Yep. Even though Jane intended to write a heroine that no one liked I actually like her. Because she does go through those stages of change and she is a proactive person. I like her much more than Fanny, who just accepts that she is miserable
@@duhduhvestaYeah I haven't heard that criticism widely and that's not at all what a Mary Sue is. That trope/cliché applies to characters that are presented (usually from the start, right from their introduction) with no real flaws, are unrealistically talented at numerous things just because, and are either automatically loved by everyone or anyone who doesn't like them is shown in a negative light. Whereas Emma is flawed from the start and throughout, and her apparent talents/smarts and reputation as beloved are deconstructed throughout as the overarching plotline. She is still not a perfect character by the end of the book, just a more evolved one, which is the point of character development, therefore it is earned. Otherwise you could refer to any character being a better person by the end of the story as them "becoming a Mary Sue", which would be wildly inaccurate. Plus as others have said, what makes the narrative different is mostly her internal self-improvement and perspective changing. There doesn't need to be a whole lot of external development or changes to show that things have progressed, and that would just be shallow without character growth. Based on the society presented here as well, where things seem to move very slowly and where the semi-occasional social gathering is a big event because not much else is happening, probably not much would change in the overall picture anyway.
Book Emma is very polite to Jane Fairfax. She encourages Jane to play, because she can't be seen to envy her, & she knows too well her playing can't compare.
i know, it’s one thing i like about the 2009 miniseries more. their relationship is more explained bc emma, jane, and frank churchill are all thought to be linked because of their mothers dying very young
Yes it's actually Emma who reaches out to Miss Fairfax and Miss Fairfax blows her off- because it is actually Jane who sees Emma as a threat; to her romantic ambitions that is.
@@MsJubjubbird Emma actually WAS a threat to Jane. Jane and Frank were secretly involved with one another but Frank and Emma’s parents were pushing them to be together. So it’s not as if the “meddling” Emma was doing came from nowhere.
@@samiam2088 Just to be clear, are you referring to Mrs. Weston as her parent? Her father certainly was not pushing them together. That would be a change, & he hates those.
@@samiam2088 they were keen but Emma had little interest. So she didn't get the threat- especially as she didn't know about the engagement. But I could see Jane thinking "well he could ditch me for money and I'll be governess for the rest of my life" Emma saw Jane as a lovematch for Mr Knightly- but then she wasn't aware of her own feelings.
It's interesting, as it's both a sort of weird flex & a subversive feminist choice! "My writing skills have gotten good enough that I can challenge readers to empathize with a heroine who's almost an antiheroine"... AND, "F* the societal standards for female perfection, I'm going to write someone who's real". I love Austen!! 🥰
What they do with the servants is phenomenal, I'm not sure if any of them ever have any lines, but their body language is always so effective in making them a dynamic part of the scene. When Knightley confronts Emma about influencing Harriet, you can see all the maids just drop what they're doing and flee the scene because they don't want to present during an argument.
My grandmother, who was a narcissist, would phrase things all the time about how it was "our choice" "we could only decide for ourselves" and the subtext was always "I'm going to approve or disapprove of either decision". There is a fine line between good advice and manipulation because on the surface it sounds the same, but the intention behind is what actually matters.
I would DIE if you guys did Sense and Sensibility!!! Colonel Brandon is such a wonderful character and I would love to hear what you guys have to say about him.
One more thing to add about how good this movie is: the costumes. The costumes/hair/makeup are so historically accurate - there are even several of Emma's dresses that are based off of extant historical garments!
the costumes - yes, perfection, but sadly the hair falls short, it's more Regency-inspired than accurate (what with the super-thin ringlets often moved to the sides or even back of the head instead of thicker ones gently framing the face). It's not a huge issue for me, but I admit it grates more than it normally would when you see the effort they made with the clothing. They probably thought the accurate hairstyles would be less flattering and I don't know why - I think Anya Taylor-Joy would look lovely in those ringlets! But that's my very minor criticism, or more like regret about the missed opportunity, in an otherwise excellent movie 🙂
I am going to throw out a petty correction on an excellent episode--which should in no way detract from how great it is and how hard you work: Jono said "Victorian" england. This is Regency England, a few decades before Victoria. The King at the time was so ill, both severe mental illness and physical issues, that his son the Prince of Wales acted as Regent for years. That's the time period Austen was writing contemporary with Napoleon's rise and fall in Europe. None of that detracts from the point you made that women at this time either inherited money or married into it and had very few ways to earn it.
Thank you thank you. I love the internet dads but it really grates when they get basic facts wrong. Regency and Victorian are VERY different socially and practically and that affects how people behave.
The scene with Miss Bates goes to show how being and kind and patient can be easily misinterpreted. There's a lot of people like Emma in the world, ready to jump the gun and judge her for it and see it as a weakness; but there's not many Miss Bates out there. She can see the flaws in Emma and still appreciate her for who she is. I love that scene so much. Both actors do such an incredible job at conveying those emotions very well! Just over all amazing!
Fun fact: I got to see an early screening of this movie when it came out, and I was a huge fan of Anya Taylor-Joy after seeing her in 'Split' and 'Glass'. I was in acting school at the time, and my teacher asked if we were excited to see anything. I told them I was seeing "Emma" with Anya Taylor-Joy, and they all gave me this blank look. I listed off a couple of things she had done, someone said "Isn't she the girl with really big eyes?" and the class was like "oh yeah, just her." A few months later, during the pandemic, "The Queen's Gambit" came out and everyone went nuts for Anya Taylor-Joy, including my classmates, and I remember thinking "Not bad for the big eyed girl, huh?"
Hey. I just wanna say that I was having a strong panic attack just like two hours ago, so I came here and started binge watching your stuff. I’ve been watching you guys for years now and this has become kind of a regular thing for me. Also I started therapy because of you. I don‘t even know you guys but you made a huge impact on my life, so like, thank you.
I would love a part 2 to this, maybe focusing on the father daughter relationship, cuz I don't ever seem to get tired of people talking about this movie
One of the things I love about this movie is that they did not shy away from period accurate costuming, even the curly cue hair thingies that movies tend to avoid like the plague. And that is what makes it work! It's so quirky and the costuming certainly matches EVEN WHILE BEING ACCURATE!
I love how watching even the background characters like the servants is very entertaining! When knightley confronts her about her part in encouraging Harriet to turn down her proposal, the maids immediately leave the room knowing that they shouldn't be there but you just know that the only reason they're so quick to leave is because they are going to be listening at the door! In other scenarios the directors would have simply forgotten there are other people in the room or do their best to not draw attention/ eye to them and just focus on the speakers. It's choices like that for me makes this film so great.
One important aspect of Miss Bates "But you are always so kind" is that Emma suddenly sees that she has reduced & underestimated Miss Bates her whole life. Miss Bates is a bit ridiculous, BUT she is not just stupid but choses to see the people around her in a positive light. She clearly knows Emma's flaws, but holds on to her conviction that Emma is a good person and even reaffirms Emma that her true self is kind. Its Miss Bates true generosity, that shatters once more Emma's frim conviction that her judgement of people is always right. Before that the lesson was just that Emma shouldnt be mean. Now, the focus is on Emma's flawed judgement of the people around her from Robert Martin, Jane Fairfax to Miss Bates. This is the only adaptation in which this moment is set in this way adding this level of complexity to Miss Bates making her look strong, and its the only one in which Emma actually apologizes to Robert Martin.
I know most people really see themselves in Liz Bennet, but this is who I see myself as, at least when I was younger. Best intentions, with a little too much ego.
Yeah I like the story in P&P a lot. Obviously it's timeless. But I am not like Lizzie. She is everything you could want in a partner or person (if anything, I am Darcy here of course he's in love just look at this woman!) I relate much more of disaster Emma.
I had an acting teacher who taught us the very common method (Emotional/Affective Memory) of using our real-life pain when we needed to be emotional. It is indeed very hard on someone. As a result of tapping into those very real feelings from my life, I can now bawl like a baby when I need to. Before a scene I close my eyes and repeat the word "sad" softly to myself while thinking of one of the many hard times in my past, a few seconds later, tears galore. When you have to do that over and over again, it definitely weighs heavy on you.
I think that burden is demonstrated by how often actors end up in IRL relationships after acting them (the challenge of blurred lines between imagined world & real one) & how often actors in their memoirs talk about how insecure they often feel, and how much recovery time intense movies take? Although I'm sure the long days, often bullying directors, and the horrible paparazzi culture also don't help 😔
One historical note: Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837, 22 years after Emma's 1815 publication. At the time, George III was still king, though the future George IV was Prince Regent by then. The period for Jane Austen's works is "Regency era" (applied to anything from late 18th century until the Victorian era began in 1837, though the actual regency only lasted 1811-1820). And, yes, I did have to look up the actual dates (I actually thought Emma was slightly earlier and Victoria later) - though I knew immediately that Emma was not Victorian.
My two take aways: i am reminded of when i set one of my good friends with one of my ex boyfriend's best friends. They met and clicked so fast and hard that they were married in less than six months. Or that was my perception and i was extremely proud of myself. Turns out, their whirl wind romance had just been him love bombing her. He completely duped her. He dropped the act as soon as they were married and lots of lying, cheating, and taking advantage of commenced. I helped cause that because i didn't know him well enough. 2nd is that emma reminds me of me when i was young. Growing up, i was the golden child as far as grades, looks and most of all, compliance, goes. When a prospective bf asked me the worst thing i had ever done, i had the hardest time thinking of anything. I settled on a memory of me stealing a cookie i was five 🤦♀ in reality there was quite a lot i could have chosen from (intolerance, judginess etc) but i was blind to see it
Also she was the one who went to Mr Martin at the end to apologize. In the beginning of the movie she didn't even look at his direction. It shows how much she developed
I thought this was just gonna be a fun little video about Emma. I’d get to rewatch some bits of this movie that I love. Nope now I’m laying here crying after I hear “she’s good enough that the guilt hits her” and I realize that because I feel guilt that makes me a better person than what I thought. A true monster wouldn’t feel guilt but here I am Thank you I really needed to hear that
Once again, an excellent pick - having daughters aged 18 and 20, the moment of realization after Emma’s cutting remark, is very real. The regret and confronting of self is very accurate for this age … and for an upper middle class kid like mine. But..the history prof gotta say, Austen lived during the American and French Revolutions, early Republic, and Napoleonic wars, so not Victoria, but Regency. It makes it so much clearer, for Americans already know George III was problematic - later mad, no his son,the Regent, the epitome of waste and arrogance, so …quite funny and revealing about Austen’s tone. Think Thomas Paine and Ben Franklin and Abigail Adams. But your point that women had to marry to live, legit!
I adored this movie so much! Miranda Hart plays Mrs. Bates so incredibly. I love her so much -she was excellent in Call the Midwife. I always get the sense that this movie/book is a commentary not on personal growth, but on the culture of female friendships and how they sometimes take the backseat to romantic relationship development. Anyway, just a thought. Cheers! have a great week!
I was literally going to say!!! The whole “Emmas words are saying this (which on the surface is good but her intentions are not) reads so true of some parents! It also almost feels like a get-out-of-jail-free card so that no matter the outcome they can claim “well i didn’t say anything one way or the other”. My parents have done so much damage to me and still continued to claim “well we don’t force you to do anything” In my own life i’ve experienced that severely with my parents religious beliefs. There was this verbal agreement that “when you’re eighteen and out of the house you can make your own choices” (over 18 now but unfortunately not able to move out due to housebounding chronic illness). And while they like to say “we don’t force you to follow our beliefs” and that “i’m free to do what i choose and they will support me”. They’ve spent two decades and ongoing years making it very clear how they feel about anything that is outside their beliefs. Things that feel carved into my soul, like they’ve built a hateful cage around me but claim that i’m still free.
Thanks for doing another Austen! Like you said, she really understood people. That's why her books still live (along with her wit and turn of phrase). BTW, love the weasel for the minister! Accurate! 🤣🤣🤣
My fave thing about this story is seeing the journey of introspection on Emma's face. As great as Jane Austen is with words, this is a journey that can't be fixed with words, and Emma's love comes through in her actions.
I genuinely shouted with joy when I saw the notification for this reaction! I LOVE Emma and the relationships explored in the story. I love how Emma is flawed, but still human and worthy of our compassion, and goes on this journey of self discovery and self awareness, ultimately growing and becoming a better friend from it. I love how Knightley, despite being framed as the moral arbiter of the novel/film, is similarly taken on a journey of self discovery, that he can be just as impulsive, petty, and jealous as Emma or anyone else despite his supposed composure and self assuredness. I love the devotion that Emma has to her father, I love the friendships, I love seeing Knightley and Emma's discovery of their own humanity and love, I love Autumn de Wilde's direction, I love the regency fashions, I LOVE the moments of humour playing up the comedy of manners! Gosh there's just so much to love about Emma, I haven't even touched on the aspects with Harriet, the Eltons, Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill but ahhhhh! I'm so happy this was covered, Thank you Cinema Therapy! :")
I think every high school student can relate to this. At high school, there's the mean girls, the petty fights, gossips, dream of the perfect date to prom/homecoming/bf and being compared to other people. Everyone can go back and remember that moment when we were too proud or in an emotional situation and mistakenly said the wrong thing to the last person we wanted to hurt. It's a smack in the face because you're surprise yourself for doing something hurtful. I do respect that Emma does take the time to learn from her mistakes and fix them. A lot of people don't do that anymore.
one of the scenes i really liked was the argument towards the end between emma and mr. knightly, just after she's hurt miss bates. they have emma standing up, and mr knightly sitting down while he's yelling at her. i don't know why they chose to shoot it that way, perhaps because it's one of the last times in the movie emma is looking down on others from her egotistical viewpoint, and it was words from someone "beneath" her that finally helped to bring her down off her pedestal, or maybe as simple as just to lessen the intensity of a man yelling at a woman like that on screen. but something about that scene speaks to me. perhaps it's because I'm a little sensitive to yelling and arguments for personal, trauma-related reasons, but i appreciated the way it was shot definitely in part because it made mr. knightley severity less, i don't know, scary? if they had both been standing, or worse, emma sitting and him standing, it would have come across so much more negatively imo. but it was shot in just the right way, and it was overall a very impactful scene, especially coming after another impactful scene just before (emma insulting miss bates). i never expected to love this movie when i first watched it, but it's definitely my favorite adaptation of emma now :)
Dropping in to show the captioner for this episode some love! The speaker tags, the height changes, the line breaks at the ends of phrases - impeccable! Keep up the quality work 🤩
As another Anna who does captioning & transcription, a big shoutout to yours!! 🥰 And thank you for acknowledging her work so clearly... Doing great captions is hard & time-consuming, but to me it really is the mark of a truly inclusive & top-shelf channel? 👑
The part about "people don't really talk like that and they never have" reminds me of National Treasure when Cage's character says something eloquent, is told people don't really talk like that, and replies "no, but they think like that"
As a huge Jane Austen fan, I love this movie. It just hits on all the witty notes that Jane Austen wrote. It has the same witty, quirky heart that Jane Austen put in the book.
Taylor-Joy is great, and of course visually stunning. But shout out to Johnny Flynn, also gorgeous, who matches her beat for beat, doesn't come across as a bully (like Mark Snow in the BBC miniseries), nor condescending (like Jeremy Northam) nor too old like both of them (the Paul Rudd character had to be sanded down to fit in Clueless). Flynn is magnificent, including his posterior, and walks the fine line between seeing Emma at her worst, but knowing she's better than that, and not being creepy or gross in either 1830 or 2022.
@@vbrown6445 I forgot all about that version, lol! Miller did yeoman work, but Romola Garai was either super miscast or poorly directed, or both. Not a lot of chemistry, and honestly a bit boring It felt like a school play level work. It could also be that while a 2 hour movie sells the novel short, 4 hours drags it out too much. I've not seen Garai in anything since, but Miller's been great in lots of other stuff.
@@bowdencable7094 I tend to prefer the longer mini-series versions of these adaptations over the movie versions, because we get more of Austen's witty writing and time to get to know the characters. But I enjoy all the variations of Emma (including Clueless) for different reasons. I do find Romola's Emma to be too sweet, but like Jonny a lot in his role. Fo another Romola Garai period drama, I would recommend Daniel Doronda, where she's more of an anti-heroine. She's also in The Miniaturist with Anya Taylor-Joy and plays her sister-in-law. All very different roles.
Knightly is actually a lot older than Emma though. He's 36 and she's 21. Big age gaps were not frowned upon then as it was expected a man would establish himself before settling down
Now I am CRAVING an episode on The Queen's Gambit! That series so beautifully deals with strong subjects like addiction, depression, having a support system, motherly love, and identity. My friends, family and I have watched the entire thing like 6 times lol.
Absolutely love this movie! As a dress historian, the costumes are some of the most accurate I've ever seen on film!!! Should've got the Oscar for best costumes
Analysing another Jane Austen story ? Yep, this is gonna be great to analyse again one of the greatest psychologist of her time ! So great in fact you can still relate nowadays with those characters and situations sometimes.
That last line of "Sometimes I just say things". As a therapist myself, I've never related to anything more 😂 Thank you for all you do here! You're all bringing goodness onto the internet
Sooooo glad to see you guys react to this movie. Jane Austen would've adored this version of Emma. The dry wit and slightly mischievous tone are exactly the types of Austenesque humor I feel portrayed in the books. And Emma is my favorite Austen protagonist especially because she can grow from her flaws and learn from her mistakes. (Also, Mr.Knightley is the best Austen male lead, and no, I do not take constructive criticism. Sorry, Darcy's fans)
@@noorbohamad5796 Pride & Prejudice's Mr Darcy is often said to be Jane Austen's best male lead character, so OP was saying that they didn't want to hear any debate or defense of Mr Darcy.
Matchmakers: But you have so much in common! Single people: like what? Our interests, goals, and approach to life are totally different. Matchmakers: But you're both single! Seriously.
This is one of the better Emma remake. I didn’t like Emma as a character when I was younger. Older me reflects and remember she only 21. Being 21 you think you know everything when in fact you know nothing. The beauty of Austen novels is every time you read it, you find something you missed the last time.
I recently watch the version with Gwyneth Paltrow and I HATED it. They wrote her as this innocent, doe-eyed, stupid young girl that didn't even seem to realize when she had insulted Miss Bates until she realized everyone else was staring at her and then seeing her friend cry. But with Anya's version, they learned into the arrogance and ego instead, which is honestly way more characteristic of a 19yo than whatever the fuck they were trying to do with Gwyneth. Never been so disappointed in my life tbh, can wait until I can watch and show my mom the new version.
Characters like Emma terrify me because im afraid that I am that way. what if my jokes are hurtful, what if i am too egotistical? I think of myself an Elinor Dashwood but what if i am an Emma?
I understand and relate. I was 24 when I realized I was Emma, but worse. I've done a lot of work, but a lot of that self-awareness has just made me *more* aware of how awful I've been this whole time. It's a tough pill to swallow but I'd rather be a better person than an asshole with no regard for others.
When you observe the fact that Emma grew up in an environment, where she was constantly praised, and constantly held up as a pinnacle of what a girl should be it’s actually impressive that at 19 she was still in a position where she could learn and grow, and observe herself.
As a pianist who works with singers what I really love about Emma’s performance is how perfectly it encapsulates her flaws. She rushes from the end of one verse to the start of the next without any thought or expression (showcasing her carefree thoughtlessness, and complacency - she can play the notes and sing in tune but she has not at all thought about the composers intentions). Then at the end she pauses far too long for an overly dramatic sigh, showing what she thinks is deep emotion but again is really out of place and just shows how out of touch she is and how she has not experienced or given thought to any of the emotions in the lyrics.
Oh and Jane Fairfax is so brilliant in her stormy Beethoven, as we see later in her outburst at Mr knightlys home, you would never expect her to have so much passion and angst below the surface of her demure countenance. Love it.
Emma is SO young! And for such a young person to be such a leader in her social group is tough. It’s hard enough being a teen who thinks she knows everything without having people actually listen to you.
I love this version and I didn't expect to. One thing about the comparison between Emma and Jane Fairfax is that they are both accomplished, but Emma had a family home and money, whereas Jane was poor. Also, there's a comparison between how Emma treats Harriet and how Mrs. Elton treats Jane. Both act superior for different reasons, but I think Emma learns from it. Mrs. Elton continues her superiority. Also, you should totally watch the 2009 miniseries. Not even to film a video. Just for fun.
Yes! I feel like the 2009 version is the one that gets the least attention or praise, but it was actually my introduction to Emma and I think Ramola Garai struck a good balance in portraying her as both too egotistical and controlling but also a genuinely friendly and loving person, and Jonny Lee Miller always seems to fit right into these sorts of adaptations. They might not do separate videos on the same story though, unless it's a comparison.
I remember I saw Emma in theaters a couple of hours before the Covid lockdown in 2020. I left the theater to a quarantine announcement, so Emma was the last movie I saw in theaters before a long cinematic draught. Thanks for analyzing the film and bringing back bittersweet memories, and more clarity regarding Emma.
I was so excited to see this film but before I could we had quarantined in my area so I remember seeing this movie being something I looked forward to if I made it through the pandemic.
I think you can do another show on this version as well - living up to expectations and the roles we are expected to play. Emma is left taking care of her father, Frank has to do what his aunt says, Harriet's birth is shrouded in secrecy (who is her father?) and so where does she actually fit, Elton and his wife - couple's therapy needed!!!
@@selenar5026 And a position of privilidge vs not, the tv series from 2009 leaned into that bit a lot, that Frank and Jane (and others, but the parallels in the tv show were between those three) were, unlike Emma, very dependent on the charity of others, while Emma is the one being charitable. That's a big part of Austen's books. Emma is one of the few protagonists who isn't completely dependent. Elizabeth is relatively independent, but the Dashwoods, Fanny, Anne, and Catherine are all depending on how others, mostly richer people, treat them.
what a coincidence, I just finished reading the book today. Jane Austen is such a clever writer so I really enjoyed the story, because there's never high stakes involved, just people being people. can't wait to watch this!
Alan, about tickling your funny bone - I think he deserves an honorable mention: the reason why I could never erase this movie from my mind is the stellar comedic performance by James O'Connor, playing the Minister. I've never seen an actor enjoy his own performance and role in a movie so immensely, its hilarious. I was wiping my tears while laughing.
Can’t recommend the book enough! It’s got some of Austen’s snappiest, funniest turns of phrases, and the visual humour in this movie strikes the tone exactly. Great adaption of a great book!
You may want to reference which Emma / Jane Austen adaptation (year number usually) you are referring to in the episode title! They get redone about every 10 years, and its fascinating to see how the zeitgeist shifts!
I am so glad you took on "Emma". My favorite Jane Austen novel! This was so much fun! I love this adaptation. But no matter how good the film, PLEASE read the novel. It's as rich as the film and it's a much different experience.
2:43 Alan’s little smile there makes me so happy!!! I just love how Jane Austen set out to make her most unlikeable character and yet to this day, we love Emma and find her charming 🥰
Ugh I could do a whole hour presentation on how much I love Emma 2020. It’s not a perfect adaption, but the way it was shot, acted, styled, and the emotions-like it’s almost perfect. It’s such a beautiful film, in so many ways.
Okay, I really wish you guys have actually read the book because it's actually quite different in terms of how people behave outwardly towards each other. In the book, Jane Fairfax is described as cold and distant even when Emma did try to (not very hard but she did try at the urging of others) get to know her. They're, at least on the surface, not as outspoken with showing their negative inner feelings in each others' companies because it is regency England.
I think one of the main things that bugs Emma about Jane is that Jane is so closed off/tight-lipped about herself and her thoughts. Everyone else shares their thoughts and feelings with Emma and/or asks her for advice. This contributes to her sense of importance and superiority. Jane Fairfax, in guarding her privacy and not seeking Emma out, shows that she doesn't need Emma. And Emma is a person who likes to be needed.
@@vbrown6445 She probably would have been better off with Emma than Mrs Elton though. Jane doesn't like her because she's scared Frank might ditch Jane for Emma. Which was a big deal because she would be condemned to the life of a governess, which was not an easy one. She doesn't realise that Emma doesn't care for Frank and would probably support the idea
At the very end, Jane does apologise for being so cold and distant, she felt it herself but had reasons. And in the book Emma was a bit more open hearted about Jane being better than her. Harriet: but you have taste ... which matters much more than execution.. Emma: Ah! but Jane has both. Harriet: well I don't know anything about music and I like you the best.
@@chrisd725 yeah I don’t remember how or if in this movie version they resolved the Jane and Emma thing but in the Romalai Garai version there was a good resolution shown I remember. But I just feel like though this movie was enjoyable as its own product they did flatten and oversimplify a lot of the relationships between characters just to make it more relatable to modern audiences
@@chrisd725One thing that I love about the movie is that the actresses playing Emma and Harriet are best friends in real life. And it was a coincidence that they were cast together but Autumn de Wilde luckily exploited this prior friendship to the fullest in the film.
My therapist has been trying to encourage me to accept compliments, but I have a hard time doing it because I have that voice that says I'm not worth it; I don't deserve it. It's not easy. You guys are an awesome part of my life now, flaws and all. Here's a floor cushion. Be comfy off the pedestal, and thank you for being genuine.
Please accept compliments. I probably will never meet you, but I know any real "suitor" won't just be discouraged if you refuse a compliment, he will be driven away. May I suggest overwriting you inner voice with the compliment?
I'm going through a hard chapeter right now, and at 24:34, That joke made me chuckle for what felt like the first time in forever. Thank you, so much for that.
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who saw the Wes Andersonesque (?) quality of this film and how amazing a job Autumn de Wilde did with adapting the book! Other adaptations cannot compare im sorry 😂 And Anya Taylor Joy was perfectly cast as Emma especially. I started to read the book again after watching this film and I’m happy to say it’s mostly faithful to not just the dialogue but also the events in the book. This is a film I always recommend to anyone (as is the 2005 P&P film adaptation) 😊
'Real trumps ideal' is such a beautiful concept, and rings very true to the way I try to be with my students. You can cultivate an air of superiority and reinforce their preconceptions of you as flawless and infallible, but that's just vanity and will make them feel worse when they struggle. The best, most valuable thing you can offer instead is your real self. Just the other day, when a young boy disclosed that he was struggling with being in a more advanced class because his parents are splitting up and change is consequently very fraught, I was able to draw on my own experience of having my parents separate and be real with him about what divorce is like for kids, in an age-appropriate way.
i absolutely love this version of Emma! this Harriet is definitely my favourite version. and i love how much of the comedy is non-verbal, which is such a clever way to go about when you have to squeeze a whole book into one movie. also, the behind-the-scenes videos are just adorable
I know Jonathan is a lovely and intelligent therapist. Not only because you keep it real but because you treat every idea and I assume patient as well with no pre-meditation or judgements. You literally think on the go and connect with individuals instead of thinking about the bulletin points of how to do your job. You naturally coast and jump in into any conversation freely like any cool friend/paternal figure AND mentor. You're the full package buddy and the real deal, love and support both of yalls work! I look forward to all your future vids and free therapy, thank you times a million! Love you guys! ❤
Persuasion, a less popular book of Jane Austen's, would be interesting to compare with Emma. The heroine is very often overlooked and has to learn to stand up for herself and have confidence in her own opinions. My favorite adaptation is the 1995 Ciaran Hinds/Amanda Root one. I think there is plenty to dissect from a therapy point of view. I like the filmmaking but I don't know enough about it to know if Alan would. Great performances, imho! In fact, I think I'm going to go watch it right now!😊
@lenag3196: I agree with you that the 1995 "Persuasion" would be interesting to explore. Anne Elliot is a shrinking violet in the beginning of this novel, but by the end she has evolved so that she can defend the reputation of Woman to a grieving friend. Elliot is a proto-feminist in her quiet, retiring way -- plus she defends the moral character of sailors as well.
This was so relatable. Thank you both for being so honest and open. One of my therapist friends said that the best therapists have been through hell and can relate to their clients. It's so much easier to talk to someone who gets it.
I was watching your video on Pride and Prejudice the other day and was wondering if you would do Emma and this just uploaded! I’m so excited to watch, love you guys! ❤
Jonathan I empathise with this feeling 23:36 where as therapists we often feel a pressure to be perfect so that we can help people and understanding and acknowledging that we are flawed humans too can be how we do actually help people. ❤️ thank you for all the work you and Alan do on this channel, I absolutely love it and look forward to every episode.
“Emma” is my favourite movie of all time and to see it reviewed by my favourite UA-cam channel made my heart spark with joy! You guys speak so much wisdom in each video you make and it often motivates me to keep going and fuel my passion for film and psychology. Thank you so so much for doing what you’re doing! You’re great!!!
If you're going to do 'Persuasion' on your next Jane Austen adaptation, remember to watch the 90s movie or the 2000s tv movie, the 2020s movie completely rewrite Anne Elliot's character and it takes a lot away from her development as a character.
I swear, the more and more Austen's stories get remade by modern film-makers, the more it feels like they're more & more "in name only" adaptations that completely warp the characters and the messaging...? 😭 Although, seeing the clips of the latest Emma version shown here, that DOES seem like a notable exception to that rule, which I'm very grateful to see!
Head to squarespace.com/cinematherapy to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code cinematherapy!
Hi Internet Dad's, unsure what happened but Alan's mic wasn't working for the ad read
Could you guys go over American Psycho? I’d love to see your assessment on Patrick Bateman😍
For some reason I cannot get the idea of you guys (who do an amazing job) doing a critique of a movie called Wendell and Wild
Love Your reactions and commentary But can you do a reaction series on attack on Titan and get your thoughts on it
Hello,can you make an episode about the Filmversion sense and sensibility with Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet and Alan Rickman? (Maybe especially about Mariannes & Colonel Brandons Relationship) ? That would be so cool . Thank U Guys!! Bless you , all the best for you all & and greetings 😊
Petition for Screen Therapists to do all the Jane Austen film adaptations
We just might!
Especially Clueless, now that we know Alan loves that version too 😜
Screen therapists is a resume title both Alan and Jonno should both have
@@juliewagner3023 and Emma approved! Although that’s a web series
@@CinemaTherapyShow Don't you with us! 😮
By the way, Emma has the single best historical costumes in any movie I've ever seen. Half of the outfits they have are direct museum copies, and the other half come from fashion plates. This is EXACTLY what people dressed like in 1815. They nailed it.
The hair however is clearly done by modern tools like Emma’s curls. Which is a bit of an issue. Also this video says it’s Victorian but it’s Regency.
@@sarasamaletdin4574 Those are important elements. Regency is very specific.
same! they all look great :]
@sarasamaletdin4574 the first hair curling iron was made in 1866 so it's maybe 60 years off. not that they couldn't get curls beforehand. just maybe not so small as in Emma's case
@Sputterbugz The size of the curls isn't the problem. You can tell that her curls were done with a curling iron because the ends are straight, as you can't curl the ends around an iron without burning your hands and letting go of the hair. They're also a little bit too perfect looking, as rag curls tend to be more uneven when they are that small. But otherwise, the style is very close to historical hair, just using modern tools and techniques. The designer did say it was on purpose, though, as it's very hard to get historical hairstyles to look attractive to modern audiences.
I love how loving Emma's relationship with her father was, and she positively adored spending time with him. Even when Knightley proposes to her, she refuses to marry him if it means leaving her beloved dad. Knightley compromises by moving in with them so that they can both care for him.
Enmeshment 😬
Yeah it’s so lovely to see 💕
And on this adaptation you do Not find the exasperation and the slight contemptuous ridicule with which she so often is displayed treating his eccentric behaviours
I have a slightly different take. I found her devotion to her dad admirable but I'm mindful that it could've easily become an enmeshed relationship. Having your husband come to live with you and your dad is hardly ideal. She was lucky that Knightly was amenable to that setup.
I don't see that relationship in the same light at all. I think it's the root cause to everything Emma does. I think she hates the situation and cannot ever show it. She's obsessed with match making because she's denied herself the chance of ever making her own because of darling papa. She's ends up being mean to her spinster friend because she's horrified of one day being like her friend, after her father has died: too old to marry anymore because no-one would have her, and nothing to show for her life other than some matches made in the past that nobody remembers. She genuinely loves her father, but deep down isn't happy with his wish that she shouldn't have a life of her own.
What is so painfull about the missus Bates incident is that she is actually the one person who thought of Emma the highest of them all, never saw any flaw in her, just as in her niece miss Fairfax. And of all the people Emma hurt, she hurt the most fragile one in all. And even then, she never blamed Emma
I actually cried at that scene 😭
Yes! This!
She is a kind soul, even when Emma hurt her.
@@keepwishin99 never having seen Emma, I was truly shocked. It really hurt to see that
@@CinemaTherapyShowthis is a good video. I suggest pitch black for your next villain therapy.
"But you are *always* kind." It settles on her like a lead weight. This is one of those forgivenesses that is worse because they're too easy about forgiving you and you realize you need to do better.
Yes! But I also think this compassion could be a sign of Mrs. Bates knowing she opened the door for that kind of behaviour towards her.
Up until that point she is always self- deprecating, but when Emma is so rude to her, she realizes other people will actually agree with her. She really is hurt. She really has some pride.
So maybe she acknowledges Emma's kindness (which she always tried to have for Mrs. Bates) because she was never kind to herself, so she knows they both were wrong in this situation. And also, she won't let Emma to continue to act like that.
At least I would like to see it that way.
OR miss bates thinks kindness is getting better, knowing that emma is able to get to that point is both a kindness to her and herself
Ugh, yes. It's such a disgustingly wonderful knife-twist. Realising not just that you've hurt someone, but just how good and gentle and undeserving of that treatment your victim was.
In a way, it's like Mrs. Bates is outplaying Emma morally, without even intending to. It's one thing to realise you've hurt someone, and it's another thing to try and make amends. But then your victim goes and forgives you anyway, proving they're better than you simply by refusing to hate you.
Such an interesting scene, because Emma could get defensive and be even more hardened/ashamed just because Mrs. Bates forgave her easily. Or she could accept that goodness and work to emulate it. It's really the moment that Emma sees she should be looking up to Mrs. Bates, in a way. I also agree that Mrs Bates being so self depricative is a flaw in itself that hopefully she learns to work on, but I've found that many people act that way to avoid censure from others
To me it's a little heart breaking because she doesn't see Emma as unkind because she truly thinks she is right about her. So it's not unkind..it's just true. I haven't seen the film personally, but I hope she grows as a person from there, realizing her own value ^^;
One thing I *loved* about this adaptation is how much the tongue-and-cheek filming style felt so much like reading the book. While I enjoy lots of Austen adaptations, I think they all take the setting and era far more seriously than Jane Austen ever did. Her writing is constantly poking fun at the absurdity of the world she's portraying, and I think this is the only adaptation I've seen that really captured her style.
💯
Great comment... Her books are basically a parody of the world they were living in and this movie is true to that notion
Few adaptions seem to realize that most Austen stories are comedies before anything else. So it was pretty gratifying that this one so effectively communicated that.
I think Love and Friendship did a decent job at not taking the time & place too seriously. As opposed Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfeild Park, etc. which have a very romantic view of regency. This film is definitely better made, though.
💯💯
it's actually pretty wild to me when i first saw this film and found out that it's Autumn De Wilde's debut feature i was like excuse me!? coz i agree! the whole thing was shot to perfection and i do think her being a photographer has lent a lot to her ability to stage and plan things well. so so beautiful.
That does explain a lot. I loved this movie because EVERYTHING is do delicate, yet so precise. The shots, the costumes, the set, the jokes, the editing, the lines. So. Much. Attention. To. Detail. Everything is important, and everything is a joy to pay attention to. This movie is a masterpiece and put so many other movies to shame.
That's one hell of a calling card. I think this is my favourite adaptation of Jane Austen.
Even the opening has a lot to say. She has the servants up before dawn to make a bouquet for Miss Taylor. In the greenhouse she is examining every single flower. "Not that one. This one." We know immediately that Emma is a spoiled, nitpicky girl with an over-inflated sense of of the importance of her own judgement. She's being annoying to the maid and butler just because she can and she knows she will be obeyed. It sets the tone for the rest of the movie and it's just a bunch of flowers.
@Lori Sews Stuff it also shows that Emma really does care for the people around her. She wants everything to be perfect for her old governess, and their conversation through the door shows a level of love, humility and honesty in Emma we only see glimses of until the end of the movie, where she has a lot of apologizing to do.
Probably because Emma actually looked up to her governess. While she looked down at everyone else.
I saw an interview with her talking about how obsessed she became with every little detail on scene, down to which sheep would be historically accurate for that time and place etc and the whole time I was just thinking YES GIRL WE SEE IT. It is perfection. You can watch this movie so many different ways, paying attention to one little thing at a time and it is still so good.
I think an important thing to note about Emma's character is her inherent loneliness and it's quite sad in its own way. She seemingly doesn't have many friends or peers her age and of her social standing (unfortunately the classism does play an issue here), Mrs. Weston was her only confidante, and her father, while loving, has deep nervous tendencies and leaves the running of the household to her. Materially, she has everything in the world, and yet she had no companionship, no real friends to help guide her except for Mr. Knightley, but one person's voice of reason can often be drowned out by the entirety of Highbury praising you. To quench that boredom and loneliness, she takes to fulfilling herself and deriving joy from other people's lives by playing god in them. An addition that I personally love with Autumn de Wilde's 2020 adaptation, is at the start of the film how Emma is in her hot house selecting flowers for a bouquet, and says to the attendant about to cut one off "Not that one. The next." Off the bat, it establishes the power and standing Emma wields, but also how she insists on making the choices, and deciding who or what goes together, much like her real life match making. There are scenes of just Emma alone, bored, with no friends, trying to talk with her father, but then her father falling into his hypochondriac tendencies instead. Her family and acquaintances are her flowers, her hot house, her doll house (in fact the 2009 adaptation plays with that "people are her dolls" idea too), she mix and matches them to her choosing to create the perfect "bouquet", in an attempt to create scenarios where there is companionship/contentment in her town and life, where she doesn't have any personally. Not that that makes her actions okay, but I do think that's an interesting facet of her psychology.
I came to the comments to say something about Emma’s loneliness being the root of her behavior, but you have done it so much more eloquently than I ever could. She really does have no one “appropriate” so share her feelings with, and is desperate to “make” a suitable friend.
This is a brilliant comment
Fantastic reading of her character. One further detail to add is that Mrs. Weston was her governess. Her closest friend in the world was also paid to be there and filled in as a mother for Emma. Obviously, their friendship is real, but it is not a peer relationship. It may be time for me to reread Emma with this lens!
Really thoughtful and well-put analysis.
Thank you for this insight. I was going to add in a similar vein that Emma is very clever (= intelligent), probably moreso than anyone else around her. Her intelligence had already been cultivated to the extent possible for a woman in her era, and so she needed to find outlets for it. I only learned recently that Austen wrote Emma to be an "unlikeable heroine"; but I never found her unlikeable, and considering her backstory, I find her very relatable.
The picnic scene GUTTED me. Because you can see the INSTANT regret in Emma's face dropping, the hurt and heartbreak in Mrs. Bates' face, and the conversation coming to a screeching halt. Just absolute perfection.
That scene is so awful,I find it so hard to read it and see it in movies.we have all either done that to someone or seen it done.jane Austen KNOWS human interaction
When she decides that she can't say yes Mr. Knightly until after she has personally apologized and made things right between Harriet and Mr. Martin is when I finally believe that she has grown as a person and was not just shamed into an apology by her community. Also, her getting a nose bleed in the middle of Mr. Knightly professing his love to her cracks me up every time.
I haven't seen this version but cannot wait now!!
Good news: the nose bleed was real! Anya got a real nosebleed during the take and they kept it in
@@jessieseymour7170 Well, props to Anya's nose and its improv skills 🤣
That seemed like such an anime trope.
The nose bleed really confused me so much. I still don’t get it
One of the things I love about the book is that Emma's saviour complex in part comes about by being the wealthiest woman in the area (and thus of course the best because that's how class worked/works), and partly because she's been managing her father's severe anxiety for so long. She's been parentified by her father and thus thinks she's much smarter and more grown up than she really is.
This is also why she won't consider marrying because she worries about the effect her leaving would have on him. In the book she initially plans to not even tell her father she's engaged and only marry Knightly once he's dead. But Knightly is truely a lovely romantic lead and he actually offers to move into her father's estate so she won't have to leave him.
If you like that, I recommend looking up Arnie Perlstein's theory of a shadow story in Emma. Basically, he thinks all the characters are deliberately hiding their affairs from Emma, and she's left trying to navigate a society that is constantly lying to her about who and what they are.
Though I do disagree with Mr. Perlstein on one point -- I think Harriet makes more sense as Mr. Knightly's illigitimate daughter. That's why he gets so angry about the engagement being refused. He picked out a husband for his daughter as is his right, and Emma's interferred. And he can't even tell her why it was wrong of her.
((Ô .Ô)) Oh my gosh, your theory about Harriet being Mr. Knightly’s daughter is….is…a really great fan theory. Love it!
Emma is 21. It’s the opening line of the novel. She lived 21 years in the world with little to distress or vex her. But indeed she knows very little about relationships.
“Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her.”
also they're not in Victorian England, but in Regency England, if we are to go nitpicking
I am older than her and I don't have that many friends or relationships either.... it's fascinating to see this character be shown on screen like that. Makes loners like me learn something from it as well.
I LOVE the Jane Austen=Aaron Sorkin comparison. People sometimes forget in the romance of it all how incredibly clever Austen's dialogue is. That's why my favorite adaptations keep as much of her dialogue as humanly possible. It's basically impossible to improve upon.
Jane Austen is one of my favorite authors because of this! The level of snark is just *chefs kiss*
Right? That's why I'm convinced that people who think it's all mannered romance haven't actually read any of the books.
it's also always good to hear aaron sorkin get a shoutout
To me Jane Austen is the queen of the wicked burn. She was an expert at backhanded insults.
@@gadgetgirl02 I've heard similar. People think that because there are clergymen, calls, and a last name basis, that it must be very stuffy, but nothing could be future from the truth.
Only issue with the Aaron Sorkin comparison is that it's the other way around. Aaron Sorkin is the Jane Austen of our day. 😂
That scene with Emma inadvertently hurting Miss Bates actually had me in tears. I've been Miss Bates in that situation with almost that exact statement, and I can tell you that hearing those words from someone you're friends with cuts you to the core. It doesn't matter how well intended the joke was, Emma hit on something that she shouldn't have.
💯
I have been on both sides and it hurts. Hurts even more if you were the Emma because very quickly you realize what you done
Miss Bates just said how dull she is too... hiding her insecurity behind the joking self-deprecation.
It's a heartbreaking probably because all of us can relate. The scene is brilliant because it doesn't shy away from how painful it is.
I've learnt that just because someone jokes about one of their flaws doesn't mean another person can...rather, best to avoid.
fun fact: jane fairfax actress is actually a classically trained pianist hehe
Easier to find a pianist who can act than teach an actor to play like that!
@@cbpd89 exactly!
Yes indeed! Her name is Amber Anderson.
The actress who plays Miss Bates is called Miranda Hart, and she's a BRILLIANT comedian! Years ago she used to have her own show on BBC called Miranda, which was very popular in the UK. It was a bit like Fleabag but way before Fleabag!
I loved her character in Call the Midwife to
Finally someone else who made the comparison between Miranda and Fleabag! They are SO similar, honestly a great example of comedy changing throughout time
The show ‘Miranda’ also features the brilliant Tom Ellis ❤
The famous scene where Emma is so terribly rude made me cringe so hard I yelled.
I think it's a turning point for her to realize her actions and words have real power and consequences, it's a very deserved humbling moment
And Miranda Hart is an underrated gem.
I literally said "b*itch" as a reflex to that scene lol
I remember when I realized what was about to come, I immediately said "oh no" and immediately covered my face and ears because I just can't watch it. It's the only part that I just CAN'T. The fall out, sure, no problem and even Knightley reprimanding her, definitely, but the actual event when she says it, I shudder and look away
I just audibly gasp every time. She really is just so cruel in that moment
"You can't be on a pedestal if you keep climbing down." -Jono
I LOVE THAT. People might be tempted to soak it up when they're put on a pedestal. But some people choose to remain humble no matter what.
I want to put my ladies on a pedestal
High enough to for me to look 👀 up her dress
-Steve Martin
@@hwizell7478 Another great reason to climb down from pedestals.
"When did you ever stop at three?"
That line struck me so hard, and reminded me so much of what I hear.
I recently was put on the same spot on a work outing, where we split the check evenly in three groups.
First group had 5 people. Second group had 6 people. Third group had one person. That person was me. When I asked, how come I was separated as my own category I was told:
"Well, you're the only fat one here. It would be unfair for anyone to evenly split the check with someone who eats as much as you do."
Sometimes I sit and wonder for a couple of minutes, if she ever, just like Emma, realized just what she said and how deeply she scarred me forever that day.
Not that it would be an ok thing to say regardless, but that's not even how that works! It really grinds my gears how many people think that calories in = body weight, when there are so many other factors that determine a person's size (not the least of which being genetics, metabolism, and/or chronic conditions... you know, things people have literally no control over).
Anyway. I don't mean to tell you things you already know, or make assumptions about your situation. My fiance's just been dealing with that kind of talk for years, so I get really passionate about it whenever it comes up. I'm so sorry you were treated so unfairly.
That is appalling. I hope you don’t have to spend a lot of time with these people.
And there would be me asking "Oh, so you have a mathematical basis for that from the cheques, or are you just one of THOSE people?" At least you didn't have to pay for your rude coworkers, not that it's much consolation
Oof. I noticed the term "evenly" - that doesn't sound like you were paying for only what you ate. It's one thing if the crew decides everyone pays for their own meal, but to shame you and hit you with extra on the check is beyond rude.
That’s just sad, they knew what they did was wrong.
Emma makes for an interesting character, especially as a female, in that she LIKES her life. She likes her status, her home, taking care of her nervous father, being an aunt. Miss Taylor becoming Mrs. Weston is the first ripple in the waters. Though she wanted her friend to be happy, her making a new home is sad for Emma, so she focuses on the power trip (that she's been on since she was a child) of being the cleverest person in most rooms she's in. When she sees that she wants to be with Knightly, it's to keep things as similar to what they've been as she can.
By the end, she still like her life, & that life has changed little. She has changed.
Like Thor in his first MCU movie, her journey is not to arrive at a new situation, but to become worthy of the situation she previously had unearned.
Yep. Even though Jane intended to write a heroine that no one liked I actually like her. Because she does go through those stages of change and she is a proactive person. I like her much more than Fanny, who just accepts that she is miserable
That’s one of the major complaints of the story. How very little changes for Emma & how she becomes a Mary sue. It’s too perfect
@@duhduhvestaYeah I haven't heard that criticism widely and that's not at all what a Mary Sue is. That trope/cliché applies to characters that are presented (usually from the start, right from their introduction) with no real flaws, are unrealistically talented at numerous things just because, and are either automatically loved by everyone or anyone who doesn't like them is shown in a negative light. Whereas Emma is flawed from the start and throughout, and her apparent talents/smarts and reputation as beloved are deconstructed throughout as the overarching plotline.
She is still not a perfect character by the end of the book, just a more evolved one, which is the point of character development, therefore it is earned. Otherwise you could refer to any character being a better person by the end of the story as them "becoming a Mary Sue", which would be wildly inaccurate. Plus as others have said, what makes the narrative different is mostly her internal self-improvement and perspective changing. There doesn't need to be a whole lot of external development or changes to show that things have progressed, and that would just be shallow without character growth.
Based on the society presented here as well, where things seem to move very slowly and where the semi-occasional social gathering is a big event because not much else is happening, probably not much would change in the overall picture anyway.
Book Emma is very polite to Jane Fairfax. She encourages Jane to play, because she can't be seen to envy her, & she knows too well her playing can't compare.
i know, it’s one thing i like about the 2009 miniseries more. their relationship is more explained bc emma, jane, and frank churchill are all thought to be linked because of their mothers dying very young
Yes it's actually Emma who reaches out to Miss Fairfax and Miss Fairfax blows her off- because it is actually Jane who sees Emma as a threat; to her romantic ambitions that is.
@@MsJubjubbird Emma actually WAS a threat to Jane. Jane and Frank were secretly involved with one another but Frank and Emma’s parents were pushing them to be together. So it’s not as if the “meddling” Emma was doing came from nowhere.
@@samiam2088 Just to be clear, are you referring to Mrs. Weston as her parent? Her father certainly was not pushing them together. That would be a change, & he hates those.
@@samiam2088 they were keen but Emma had little interest. So she didn't get the threat- especially as she didn't know about the engagement. But I could see Jane thinking "well he could ditch me for money and I'll be governess for the rest of my life" Emma saw Jane as a lovematch for Mr Knightly- but then she wasn't aware of her own feelings.
I love 😂the fact that Jane Austin basically said that she was going to create a heroine that nobody else would like but her!😂
It's interesting, as it's both a sort of weird flex & a subversive feminist choice! "My writing skills have gotten good enough that I can challenge readers to empathize with a heroine who's almost an antiheroine"... AND, "F* the societal standards for female perfection, I'm going to write someone who's real". I love Austen!! 🥰
What they do with the servants is phenomenal, I'm not sure if any of them ever have any lines, but their body language is always so effective in making them a dynamic part of the scene. When Knightley confronts Emma about influencing Harriet, you can see all the maids just drop what they're doing and flee the scene because they don't want to present during an argument.
I love the guy who just walks right back out when he sees knightly on the floor😂
@@gmoo84and closes the door behind him! Perfect!
My grandmother, who was a narcissist, would phrase things all the time about how it was "our choice" "we could only decide for ourselves" and the subtext was always "I'm going to approve or disapprove of either decision". There is a fine line between good advice and manipulation because on the surface it sounds the same, but the intention behind is what actually matters.
Minute 12:15 : "How many parents do this". Narcissist mothers for sure
Oh my god… that’s my mum.
Our UA-cam dads always manage to make my day better. Thanks guys, stay funny.
I know right?
They really are our internet dads ❤
Yes please!! 🎉
That means so much. Thank you!!
@@CinemaTherapyShow ❤️❤️❤️
I would DIE if you guys did Sense and Sensibility!!! Colonel Brandon is such a wonderful character and I would love to hear what you guys have to say about him.
Absolutely, the whirlwind romance between Marianne and Willoughby has a lot to learn from.
YES YES YES PLEASE!!!
ME TOO!! My favorite! I adore that man too! ❤️❤️❤️
Indeed!
Colonel Brandon is GOAT
One more thing to add about how good this movie is: the costumes. The costumes/hair/makeup are so historically accurate - there are even several of Emma's dresses that are based off of extant historical garments!
the costumes - yes, perfection, but sadly the hair falls short, it's more Regency-inspired than accurate (what with the super-thin ringlets often moved to the sides or even back of the head instead of thicker ones gently framing the face). It's not a huge issue for me, but I admit it grates more than it normally would when you see the effort they made with the clothing. They probably thought the accurate hairstyles would be less flattering and I don't know why - I think Anya Taylor-Joy would look lovely in those ringlets! But that's my very minor criticism, or more like regret about the missed opportunity, in an otherwise excellent movie 🙂
I am going to throw out a petty correction on an excellent episode--which should in no way detract from how great it is and how hard you work: Jono said "Victorian" england. This is Regency England, a few decades before Victoria.
The King at the time was so ill, both severe mental illness and physical issues, that his son the Prince of Wales acted as Regent for years. That's the time period Austen was writing contemporary with Napoleon's rise and fall in Europe.
None of that detracts from the point you made that women at this time either inherited money or married into it and had very few ways to earn it.
Oh, cool. Interesting to imagine that Napoleon is off living his best life while all this is going on.
I never truly thought about where the name of the era came from. Thank you for this bit of information!
Ah. Just also commented. And encouraged it’s the film, not the novel, under discussion. I learn so much from you both!
Thank you thank you. I love the internet dads but it really grates when they get basic facts wrong. Regency and Victorian are VERY different socially and practically and that affects how people behave.
I came here to see if any commented on it and was glad to find yours.
The "i hope you can recollect the tune" is not in the book, but the scene in general is and Emma is definitely put in her place with music
“Jane Austen was the Aaron Sorkin of her day” is an incredibly apt comparison that a “cool” English 101 professor would make and I’m loving it.
Alan: "I don't know why this movie tickles my funny bone."
Me: "It's the mighty Jane Austen!"
The scene with Miss Bates goes to show how being and kind and patient can be easily misinterpreted. There's a lot of people like Emma in the world, ready to jump the gun and judge her for it and see it as a weakness; but there's not many Miss Bates out there. She can see the flaws in Emma and still appreciate her for who she is.
I love that scene so much.
Both actors do such an incredible job at conveying those emotions very well! Just over all amazing!
Fun fact: I got to see an early screening of this movie when it came out, and I was a huge fan of Anya Taylor-Joy after seeing her in 'Split' and 'Glass'. I was in acting school at the time, and my teacher asked if we were excited to see anything. I told them I was seeing "Emma" with Anya Taylor-Joy, and they all gave me this blank look. I listed off a couple of things she had done, someone said "Isn't she the girl with really big eyes?" and the class was like "oh yeah, just her."
A few months later, during the pandemic, "The Queen's Gambit" came out and everyone went nuts for Anya Taylor-Joy, including my classmates, and I remember thinking "Not bad for the big eyed girl, huh?"
Anya Taylor-Joy really seems to be in everything that came out this last few years....
@@fruzsimih7214 her agent, manager, and her did a great job finding the right people to work with her
I know her from The VVitch. I'm not a big fan, but she was phenomenal in that and in Emma.
Hey. I just wanna say that I was having a strong panic attack just like two hours ago, so I came here and started binge watching your stuff. I’ve been watching you guys for years now and this has become kind of a regular thing for me. Also I started therapy because of you. I don‘t even know you guys but you made a huge impact on my life, so like, thank you.
We hope you're doing better, and it's so great to hear you're getting the help you deserve. Thanks for being here!
I would love a part 2 to this, maybe focusing on the father daughter relationship, cuz I don't ever seem to get tired of people talking about this movie
One of the things I love about this movie is that they did not shy away from period accurate costuming, even the curly cue hair thingies that movies tend to avoid like the plague. And that is what makes it work! It's so quirky and the costuming certainly matches EVEN WHILE BEING ACCURATE!
I love how watching even the background characters like the servants is very entertaining! When knightley confronts her about her part in encouraging Harriet to turn down her proposal, the maids immediately leave the room knowing that they shouldn't be there but you just know that the only reason they're so quick to leave is because they are going to be listening at the door! In other scenarios the directors would have simply forgotten there are other people in the room or do their best to not draw attention/ eye to them and just focus on the speakers. It's choices like that for me makes this film so great.
One important aspect of Miss Bates "But you are always so kind" is that Emma suddenly sees that she has reduced & underestimated Miss Bates her whole life. Miss Bates is a bit ridiculous, BUT she is not just stupid but choses to see the people around her in a positive light. She clearly knows Emma's flaws, but holds on to her conviction that Emma is a good person and even reaffirms Emma that her true self is kind. Its Miss Bates true generosity, that shatters once more Emma's frim conviction that her judgement of people is always right. Before that the lesson was just that Emma shouldnt be mean. Now, the focus is on Emma's flawed judgement of the people around her from Robert Martin, Jane Fairfax to Miss Bates.
This is the only adaptation in which this moment is set in this way adding this level of complexity to Miss Bates making her look strong, and its the only one in which Emma actually apologizes to Robert Martin.
Cinema Therapy is always an instant click for me even if I haven't seen the film like this one.
Same here
Same!! They've convinced me to watch several movies and shows that I had zero interest in watching
Aww thanks so much!!
I know most people really see themselves in Liz Bennet, but this is who I see myself as, at least when I was younger. Best intentions, with a little too much ego.
Yeah I like the story in P&P a lot. Obviously it's timeless. But I am not like Lizzie. She is everything you could want in a partner or person (if anything, I am Darcy here of course he's in love just look at this woman!) I relate much more of disaster Emma.
I had an acting teacher who taught us the very common method (Emotional/Affective Memory) of using our real-life pain when we needed to be emotional. It is indeed very hard on someone. As a result of tapping into those very real feelings from my life, I can now bawl like a baby when I need to. Before a scene I close my eyes and repeat the word "sad" softly to myself while thinking of one of the many hard times in my past, a few seconds later, tears galore. When you have to do that over and over again, it definitely weighs heavy on you.
I think that burden is demonstrated by how often actors end up in IRL relationships after acting them (the challenge of blurred lines between imagined world & real one) & how often actors in their memoirs talk about how insecure they often feel, and how much recovery time intense movies take? Although I'm sure the long days, often bullying directors, and the horrible paparazzi culture also don't help 😔
One historical note: Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837, 22 years after Emma's 1815 publication. At the time, George III was still king, though the future George IV was Prince Regent by then.
The period for Jane Austen's works is "Regency era" (applied to anything from late 18th century until the Victorian era began in 1837, though the actual regency only lasted 1811-1820).
And, yes, I did have to look up the actual dates (I actually thought Emma was slightly earlier and Victoria later) - though I knew immediately that Emma was not Victorian.
People always call the Georgian Period that came before and the Edwardian Period that came after 'Victorian' and it drives me nuts.
My two take aways: i am reminded of when i set one of my good friends with one of my ex boyfriend's best friends. They met and clicked so fast and hard that they were married in less than six months. Or that was my perception and i was extremely proud of myself. Turns out, their whirl wind romance had just been him love bombing her. He completely duped her. He dropped the act as soon as they were married and lots of lying, cheating, and taking advantage of commenced. I helped cause that because i didn't know him well enough.
2nd is that emma reminds me of me when i was young. Growing up, i was the golden child as far as grades, looks and most of all, compliance, goes. When a prospective bf asked me the worst thing i had ever done, i had the hardest time thinking of anything. I settled on a memory of me stealing a cookie i was five 🤦♀ in reality there was quite a lot i could have chosen from (intolerance, judginess etc) but i was blind to see it
Also she was the one who went to Mr Martin at the end to apologize. In the beginning of the movie she didn't even look at his direction. It shows how much she developed
I thought this was just gonna be a fun little video about Emma. I’d get to rewatch some bits of this movie that I love.
Nope now I’m laying here crying after I hear “she’s good enough that the guilt hits her” and I realize that because I feel guilt that makes me a better person than what I thought. A true monster wouldn’t feel guilt but here I am
Thank you I really needed to hear that
Once again, an excellent pick - having daughters aged 18 and 20, the moment of realization after Emma’s cutting remark, is very real. The regret and confronting of self is very accurate for this age … and for an upper middle class kid like mine. But..the history prof gotta say, Austen lived during the American and French Revolutions, early Republic, and Napoleonic wars, so not Victoria, but Regency. It makes it so much clearer, for Americans already know George III was problematic - later mad, no his son,the Regent, the epitome of waste and arrogance, so …quite funny and revealing about Austen’s tone. Think Thomas Paine and Ben Franklin and Abigail Adams. But your point that women had to marry to live, legit!
At 9:50, notice the maids' noping right out of the room as Knightly and Emma start arguing. 😆
I adored this movie so much! Miranda Hart plays Mrs. Bates so incredibly. I love her so much -she was excellent in Call the Midwife. I always get the sense that this movie/book is a commentary not on personal growth, but on the culture of female friendships and how they sometimes take the backseat to romantic relationship development. Anyway, just a thought. Cheers! have a great week!
I was literally going to say!!! The whole “Emmas words are saying this (which on the surface is good but her intentions are not) reads so true of some parents! It also almost feels like a get-out-of-jail-free card so that no matter the outcome they can claim “well i didn’t say anything one way or the other”. My parents have done so much damage to me and still continued to claim “well we don’t force you to do anything” In my own life i’ve experienced that severely with my parents religious beliefs. There was this verbal agreement that “when you’re eighteen and out of the house you can make your own choices” (over 18 now but unfortunately not able to move out due to housebounding chronic illness). And while they like to say “we don’t force you to follow our beliefs” and that “i’m free to do what i choose and they will support me”. They’ve spent two decades and ongoing years making it very clear how they feel about anything that is outside their beliefs. Things that feel carved into my soul, like they’ve built a hateful cage around me but claim that i’m still free.
There are times I wish I could make a movie just for them to talk about. Thanks guys for all you do.
Aww thanks! You're very welcome. :)
I wish I could be watching the movie with them every time I watch their videos! Love you both internet dads!!!
Thanks for doing another Austen! Like you said, she really understood people. That's why her books still live (along with her wit and turn of phrase).
BTW, love the weasel for the minister! Accurate! 🤣🤣🤣
You're so welcome!
My fave thing about this story is seeing the journey of introspection on Emma's face. As great as Jane Austen is with words, this is a journey that can't be fixed with words, and Emma's love comes through in her actions.
I genuinely shouted with joy when I saw the notification for this reaction! I LOVE Emma and the relationships explored in the story. I love how Emma is flawed, but still human and worthy of our compassion, and goes on this journey of self discovery and self awareness, ultimately growing and becoming a better friend from it. I love how Knightley, despite being framed as the moral arbiter of the novel/film, is similarly taken on a journey of self discovery, that he can be just as impulsive, petty, and jealous as Emma or anyone else despite his supposed composure and self assuredness. I love the devotion that Emma has to her father, I love the friendships, I love seeing Knightley and Emma's discovery of their own humanity and love, I love Autumn de Wilde's direction, I love the regency fashions, I LOVE the moments of humour playing up the comedy of manners! Gosh there's just so much to love about Emma, I haven't even touched on the aspects with Harriet, the Eltons, Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill but ahhhhh! I'm so happy this was covered, Thank you Cinema Therapy! :")
I think every high school student can relate to this. At high school, there's the mean girls, the petty fights, gossips, dream of the perfect date to prom/homecoming/bf and being compared to other people. Everyone can go back and remember that moment when we were too proud or in an emotional situation and mistakenly said the wrong thing to the last person we wanted to hurt. It's a smack in the face because you're surprise yourself for doing something hurtful. I do respect that Emma does take the time to learn from her mistakes and fix them. A lot of people don't do that anymore.
one of the scenes i really liked was the argument towards the end between emma and mr. knightly, just after she's hurt miss bates. they have emma standing up, and mr knightly sitting down while he's yelling at her. i don't know why they chose to shoot it that way, perhaps because it's one of the last times in the movie emma is looking down on others from her egotistical viewpoint, and it was words from someone "beneath" her that finally helped to bring her down off her pedestal, or maybe as simple as just to lessen the intensity of a man yelling at a woman like that on screen. but something about that scene speaks to me. perhaps it's because I'm a little sensitive to yelling and arguments for personal, trauma-related reasons, but i appreciated the way it was shot definitely in part because it made mr. knightley severity less, i don't know, scary? if they had both been standing, or worse, emma sitting and him standing, it would have come across so much more negatively imo. but it was shot in just the right way, and it was overall a very impactful scene, especially coming after another impactful scene just before (emma insulting miss bates). i never expected to love this movie when i first watched it, but it's definitely my favorite adaptation of emma now :)
Dropping in to show the captioner for this episode some love! The speaker tags, the height changes, the line breaks at the ends of phrases - impeccable! Keep up the quality work 🤩
Our captioner is always credited in the video description. Anna is the best!!
As another Anna who does captioning & transcription, a big shoutout to yours!! 🥰 And thank you for acknowledging her work so clearly... Doing great captions is hard & time-consuming, but to me it really is the mark of a truly inclusive & top-shelf channel? 👑
The part about "people don't really talk like that and they never have" reminds me of National Treasure when Cage's character says something eloquent, is told people don't really talk like that, and replies "no, but they think like that"
As a huge Jane Austen fan, I love this movie. It just hits on all the witty notes that Jane Austen wrote. It has the same witty, quirky heart that Jane Austen put in the book.
Taylor-Joy is great, and of course visually stunning. But shout out to Johnny Flynn, also gorgeous, who matches her beat for beat, doesn't come across as a bully (like Mark Snow in the BBC miniseries), nor condescending (like Jeremy Northam) nor too old like both of them (the Paul Rudd character had to be sanded down to fit in Clueless).
Flynn is magnificent, including his posterior, and walks the fine line between seeing Emma at her worst, but knowing she's better than that, and not being creepy or gross in either 1830 or 2022.
What did you think of Jonny Lee Miller in the 2009 version?
@@vbrown6445 I forgot all about that version, lol! Miller did yeoman work, but Romola Garai was either super miscast or poorly directed, or both. Not a lot of chemistry, and honestly a bit boring It felt like a school play level work. It could also be that while a 2 hour movie sells the novel short, 4 hours drags it out too much.
I've not seen Garai in anything since, but Miller's been great in lots of other stuff.
@@bowdencable7094 I tend to prefer the longer mini-series versions of these adaptations over the movie versions, because we get more of Austen's witty writing and time to get to know the characters. But I enjoy all the variations of Emma (including Clueless) for different reasons. I do find Romola's Emma to be too sweet, but like Jonny a lot in his role. Fo another Romola Garai period drama, I would recommend Daniel Doronda, where she's more of an anti-heroine. She's also in The Miniaturist with Anya Taylor-Joy and plays her sister-in-law. All very different roles.
Knightly is actually a lot older than Emma though. He's 36 and she's 21. Big age gaps were not frowned upon then as it was expected a man would establish himself before settling down
Wait! Mark snow? or mark strong?
Now I am CRAVING an episode on The Queen's Gambit! That series so beautifully deals with strong subjects like addiction, depression, having a support system, motherly love, and identity. My friends, family and I have watched the entire thing like 6 times lol.
Absolutely love this movie! As a dress historian, the costumes are some of the most accurate I've ever seen on film!!! Should've got the Oscar for best costumes
Analysing another Jane Austen story ? Yep, this is gonna be great to analyse again one of the greatest psychologist of her time ! So great in fact you can still relate nowadays with those characters and situations sometimes.
That last line of "Sometimes I just say things". As a therapist myself, I've never related to anything more 😂 Thank you for all you do here! You're all bringing goodness onto the internet
Sooooo glad to see you guys react to this movie. Jane Austen would've adored this version of Emma. The dry wit and slightly mischievous tone are exactly the types of Austenesque humor I feel portrayed in the books. And Emma is my favorite Austen protagonist especially because she can grow from her flaws and learn from her mistakes. (Also, Mr.Knightley is the best Austen male lead, and no, I do not take constructive criticism. Sorry, Darcy's fans)
I’d like to ask what do you
mean by “no I do not take constructive criticism
sorry Darcy’s fans”?
@@noorbohamad5796 Pride & Prejudice's Mr Darcy is often said to be Jane Austen's best male lead character, so OP was saying that they didn't want to hear any debate or defense of Mr Darcy.
Matchmakers: But you have so much in common!
Single people: like what? Our interests, goals, and approach to life are totally different.
Matchmakers: But you're both single!
Seriously.
"And you have the same hair colour" 😂😂😂
This is one of the better Emma remake. I didn’t like Emma as a character when I was younger. Older me reflects and remember she only 21. Being 21 you think you know everything when in fact you know nothing. The beauty of Austen novels is every time you read it, you find something you missed the last time.
I recently watch the version with Gwyneth Paltrow and I HATED it. They wrote her as this innocent, doe-eyed, stupid young girl that didn't even seem to realize when she had insulted Miss Bates until she realized everyone else was staring at her and then seeing her friend cry. But with Anya's version, they learned into the arrogance and ego instead, which is honestly way more characteristic of a 19yo than whatever the fuck they were trying to do with Gwyneth. Never been so disappointed in my life tbh, can wait until I can watch and show my mom the new version.
@@septicember have you watched the the Kate Beckinsale one? She’s the meanest Emma ever. You’ll probably hate her too lol
Characters like Emma terrify me because im afraid that I am that way. what if my jokes are hurtful, what if i am too egotistical? I think of myself an Elinor Dashwood but what if i am an Emma?
We all say hurtful things sometimes!! The fact that you're wondering this makes me think you wouldn't do it on purpose 😊
I understand and relate. I was 24 when I realized I was Emma, but worse. I've done a lot of work, but a lot of that self-awareness has just made me *more* aware of how awful I've been this whole time. It's a tough pill to swallow but I'd rather be a better person than an asshole with no regard for others.
It's so relatable because we're all a little like Emma. That's why it's so uncomfortable to watch her struggle.
I don't think Emma worries that she's an Emma, if that's any help!
When you observe the fact that Emma grew up in an environment, where she was constantly praised, and constantly held up as a pinnacle of what a girl should be it’s actually impressive that at 19 she was still in a position where she could learn and grow, and observe herself.
As a pianist who works with singers what I really love about Emma’s performance is how perfectly it encapsulates her flaws. She rushes from the end of one verse to the start of the next without any thought or expression (showcasing her carefree thoughtlessness, and complacency - she can play the notes and sing in tune but she has not at all thought about the composers intentions). Then at the end she pauses far too long for an overly dramatic sigh, showing what she thinks is deep emotion but again is really out of place and just shows how out of touch she is and how she has not experienced or given thought to any of the emotions in the lyrics.
Oh and Jane Fairfax is so brilliant in her stormy Beethoven, as we see later in her outburst at Mr knightlys home, you would never expect her to have so much passion and angst below the surface of her demure countenance. Love it.
Emma is SO young! And for such a young person to be such a leader in her social group is tough. It’s hard enough being a teen who thinks she knows everything without having people actually listen to you.
Emma is 21 though, not a teenager
I love this version and I didn't expect to. One thing about the comparison between Emma and Jane Fairfax is that they are both accomplished, but Emma had a family home and money, whereas Jane was poor. Also, there's a comparison between how Emma treats Harriet and how Mrs. Elton treats Jane. Both act superior for different reasons, but I think Emma learns from it. Mrs. Elton continues her superiority.
Also, you should totally watch the 2009 miniseries. Not even to film a video. Just for fun.
Yes! I feel like the 2009 version is the one that gets the least attention or praise, but it was actually my introduction to Emma and I think Ramola Garai struck a good balance in portraying her as both too egotistical and controlling but also a genuinely friendly and loving person, and Jonny Lee Miller always seems to fit right into these sorts of adaptations. They might not do separate videos on the same story though, unless it's a comparison.
I remember I saw Emma in theaters a couple of hours before the Covid lockdown in 2020. I left the theater to a quarantine announcement, so Emma was the last movie I saw in theaters before a long cinematic draught. Thanks for analyzing the film and bringing back bittersweet memories, and more clarity regarding Emma.
I was so excited to see this film but before I could we had quarantined in my area so I remember seeing this movie being something I looked forward to if I made it through the pandemic.
@@carolgnojewski6593 Movies can be a light at the end of the tunnel.
This is one of my favorite Emma adaptations! Thanks for doing this!
Me too! I love it! They did such a good job with the romance aspect.
I think you can do another show on this version as well - living up to expectations and the roles we are expected to play. Emma is left taking care of her father, Frank has to do what his aunt says, Harriet's birth is shrouded in secrecy (who is her father?) and so where does she actually fit, Elton and his wife - couple's therapy needed!!!
Yes! It is delightful, gorgeous in the direction and cinematography and the acting is top notch!
You're so welcome!
@@selenar5026 And a position of privilidge vs not, the tv series from 2009 leaned into that bit a lot, that Frank and Jane (and others, but the parallels in the tv show were between those three) were, unlike Emma, very dependent on the charity of others, while Emma is the one being charitable. That's a big part of Austen's books. Emma is one of the few protagonists who isn't completely dependent. Elizabeth is relatively independent, but the Dashwoods, Fanny, Anne, and Catherine are all depending on how others, mostly richer people, treat them.
what a coincidence, I just finished reading the book today. Jane Austen is such a clever writer so I really enjoyed the story, because there's never high stakes involved, just people being people. can't wait to watch this!
Alan, about tickling your funny bone - I think he deserves an honorable mention: the reason why I could never erase this movie from my mind is the stellar comedic performance by James O'Connor, playing the Minister. I've never seen an actor enjoy his own performance and role in a movie so immensely, its hilarious. I was wiping my tears while laughing.
Loved it. Just hoped you talked more about Emma's relationship with her dad and her dad's relationships with both daughters.
+1
Can’t recommend the book enough! It’s got some of Austen’s snappiest, funniest turns of phrases, and the visual humour in this movie strikes the tone exactly. Great adaption of a great book!
You may want to reference which Emma / Jane Austen adaptation (year number usually) you are referring to in the episode title! They get redone about every 10 years, and its fascinating to see how the zeitgeist shifts!
I am so glad you took on "Emma". My favorite Jane Austen novel! This was so much fun! I love this adaptation. But no matter how good the film, PLEASE read the novel. It's as rich as the film and it's a much different experience.
2:43 Alan’s little smile there makes me so happy!!! I just love how Jane Austen set out to make her most unlikeable character and yet to this day, we love Emma and find her charming 🥰
Ugh I could do a whole hour presentation on how much I love Emma 2020. It’s not a perfect adaption, but the way it was shot, acted, styled, and the emotions-like it’s almost perfect. It’s such a beautiful film, in so many ways.
Okay, I really wish you guys have actually read the book because it's actually quite different in terms of how people behave outwardly towards each other. In the book, Jane Fairfax is described as cold and distant even when Emma did try to (not very hard but she did try at the urging of others) get to know her. They're, at least on the surface, not as outspoken with showing their negative inner feelings in each others' companies because it is regency England.
I think one of the main things that bugs Emma about Jane is that Jane is so closed off/tight-lipped about herself and her thoughts. Everyone else shares their thoughts and feelings with Emma and/or asks her for advice. This contributes to her sense of importance and superiority. Jane Fairfax, in guarding her privacy and not seeking Emma out, shows that she doesn't need Emma. And Emma is a person who likes to be needed.
@@vbrown6445 She probably would have been better off with Emma than Mrs Elton though. Jane doesn't like her because she's scared Frank might ditch Jane for Emma. Which was a big deal because she would be condemned to the life of a governess, which was not an easy one. She doesn't realise that Emma doesn't care for Frank and would probably support the idea
At the very end, Jane does apologise for being so cold and distant, she felt it herself but had reasons. And in the book Emma was a bit more open hearted about Jane being better than her. Harriet: but you have taste ... which matters much more than execution.. Emma: Ah! but Jane has both. Harriet: well I don't know anything about music and I like you the best.
@@chrisd725 yeah I don’t remember how or if in this movie version they resolved the Jane and Emma thing but in the Romalai Garai version there was a good resolution shown I remember. But I just feel like though this movie was enjoyable as its own product they did flatten and oversimplify a lot of the relationships between characters just to make it more relatable to modern audiences
@@chrisd725One thing that I love about the movie is that the actresses playing Emma and Harriet are best friends in real life. And it was a coincidence that they were cast together but Autumn de Wilde luckily exploited this prior friendship to the fullest in the film.
My therapist has been trying to encourage me to accept compliments, but I have a hard time doing it because I have that voice that says I'm not worth it; I don't deserve it. It's not easy.
You guys are an awesome part of my life now, flaws and all. Here's a floor cushion. Be comfy off the pedestal, and thank you for being genuine.
Please accept compliments. I probably will never meet you, but I know any real "suitor" won't just be discouraged if you refuse a compliment, he will be driven away.
May I suggest overwriting you inner voice with the compliment?
"My brokenness and my strength help people" is just an incredible quote. That's how I want to approach storytelling
I can’t tell y’all how much these videos have done for me. This is therapy for me…humor, wit, and introspection. Thanks, guys❤
We love to hear that. Thanks for watching! :)
I'm going through a hard chapeter right now, and at 24:34, That joke made me chuckle for what felt like the first time in forever.
Thank you, so much for that.
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who saw the Wes Andersonesque (?) quality of this film and how amazing a job Autumn de Wilde did with adapting the book! Other adaptations cannot compare im sorry 😂 And Anya Taylor Joy was perfectly cast as Emma especially. I started to read the book again after watching this film and I’m happy to say it’s mostly faithful to not just the dialogue but also the events in the book. This is a film I always recommend to anyone (as is the 2005 P&P film adaptation) 😊
'Real trumps ideal' is such a beautiful concept, and rings very true to the way I try to be with my students. You can cultivate an air of superiority and reinforce their preconceptions of you as flawless and infallible, but that's just vanity and will make them feel worse when they struggle. The best, most valuable thing you can offer instead is your real self. Just the other day, when a young boy disclosed that he was struggling with being in a more advanced class because his parents are splitting up and change is consequently very fraught, I was able to draw on my own experience of having my parents separate and be real with him about what divorce is like for kids, in an age-appropriate way.
Awww! Miranda Hart is Miss Bates! I've always loved her character Camilla (Chummy) from Call The Midwife! :)
i absolutely love this version of Emma! this Harriet is definitely my favourite version. and i love how much of the comedy is non-verbal, which is such a clever way to go about when you have to squeeze a whole book into one movie. also, the behind-the-scenes videos are just adorable
I know Jonathan is a lovely and intelligent therapist. Not only because you keep it real but because you treat every idea and I assume patient as well with no pre-meditation or judgements.
You literally think on the go and connect with individuals instead of thinking about the bulletin points of how to do your job. You naturally coast and jump in into any conversation freely like any cool friend/paternal figure AND mentor.
You're the full package buddy and the real deal, love and support both of yalls work! I look forward to all your future vids and free therapy, thank you times a million! Love you guys! ❤
Persuasion, a less popular book of Jane Austen's, would be interesting to compare with Emma. The heroine is very often overlooked and has to learn to stand up for herself and have confidence in her own opinions. My favorite adaptation is the 1995 Ciaran Hinds/Amanda Root one. I think there is plenty to dissect from a therapy point of view. I like the filmmaking but I don't know enough about it to know if Alan would. Great performances, imho!
In fact, I think I'm going to go watch it right now!😊
😁
@lenag3196: I agree with you that the 1995 "Persuasion" would be interesting to explore. Anne Elliot is a shrinking violet in the beginning of this novel, but by the end she has evolved so that she can defend the reputation of Woman to a grieving friend. Elliot is a proto-feminist in her quiet, retiring way -- plus she defends the moral character of sailors as well.
I agree that the 1995 version of Persuasion is the best to date and would make for interesting filmmaking and therapeutic analysis.
Having my first therapy session today. Thank you for helping me towards this decision, couldn't do it without the support :)
Best wishes! We're so glad you're taking that step.
This was so relatable. Thank you both for being so honest and open. One of my therapist friends said that the best therapists have been through hell and can relate to their clients. It's so much easier to talk to someone who gets it.
I was watching your video on Pride and Prejudice the other day and was wondering if you would do Emma and this just uploaded! I’m so excited to watch, love you guys! ❤
Jonathan I empathise with this feeling 23:36 where as therapists we often feel a pressure to be perfect so that we can help people and understanding and acknowledging that we are flawed humans too can be how we do actually help people. ❤️ thank you for all the work you and Alan do on this channel, I absolutely love it and look forward to every episode.
This is why Jane Austen is such a genius
“Emma” is my favourite movie of all time and to see it reviewed by my favourite UA-cam channel made my heart spark with joy! You guys speak so much wisdom in each video you make and it often motivates me to keep going and fuel my passion for film and psychology. Thank you so so much for doing what you’re doing! You’re great!!!
If you're going to do 'Persuasion' on your next Jane Austen adaptation, remember to watch the 90s movie or the 2000s tv movie, the 2020s movie completely rewrite Anne Elliot's character and it takes a lot away from her development as a character.
I swear, the more and more Austen's stories get remade by modern film-makers, the more it feels like they're more & more "in name only" adaptations that completely warp the characters and the messaging...? 😭
Although, seeing the clips of the latest Emma version shown here, that DOES seem like a notable exception to that rule, which I'm very grateful to see!