It is said that “the classics never go out of style”, but the truth is that, although many great works of literature never die, Hollywood occasionally takes care of giving these texts a new air and therefore creates new versions, some more successful than others, based on works by great writers of literature.
It is a fact that william shakespeare will always inspire new productions, but perhaps its female counterpart, Jane Austenwhose work dates back two centuries, is not to be outdone and is constantly taken to the cinema and sometimes in very free versions compared to the original text.
A few days ago it was created Persuasionthe new bet netflix based on the work of the same name by Austen, and although it is a faithful adaptation of this classic, it also has some adjustments that make it modern, that is, although it is set in the 19th century, as the work it is based on, has Afro-descendant characters in prominent roles, a situation that did not occur in those years due to racism.
On the other hand, its protagonist Anne Elliot (dakota johnson), breaks the fourth wall and in addition to constantly looking at the camera, he talks to the viewer to draw him into his story.
Over the past three decades there have been other stories based on books by the British writer, which, although it may not seem at first sight, are inspired by his texts and some have had more luck than others with critics and audiences. What are?
Fire Island
pride and prejudice It’s not only one of Austen’s best-known works, it’s also one of his most suitable for film and television, so doing something different and surprising with this text can be a difficult mission to accomplish, but Star+ it looks like he can do it with the premiere of this feature film.
Considered one of the best comedies of 2022, this film follows the premise of Jane but puts it on a modern level and in which the LGBTI+ community is the protagonist. The film follows a group of gay friends determined to have the best summer week of their lives at Fire Island Pines in New York.
Unconscious (no idea)
This 1995 film became an instant classic and after more than two decades of its release, it continues to be a favorite and must-see among young people, who discover this feature film inspired by Emma by Jane Austen but framed in 90s California.
This teen movie has 81% approval in rotten tomatoes and when it was released, it made over $10 million in its first week. The romantic comedy set at Heckerling High School stars a young Alicia Silverstone as Dear Horowitz and got over 56 million worldwide.
This work was led by Amy Heckerling and pays homage to Austen’s literary classic of 1815 and takes them to the Beverly Hills of the 90s and although at first glance the text that inspired this film cannot be identified, by putting more details it will be seen that the director instead of Austen’s letters and notes use cellphones and payphones to create narrative tension.
The film that sees through HBO Maxeven adapts Austen’s period fashion in a ’90s-specific way, with Cher frequently donning fitted dresses.
Bridget Jones’s Diary
This 2001 British film also became an instant classic, spawning two sequels, one in 2004 (Bridget Jones: on the edge of reason) and another in 2016 (Bridget Jones’ baby), and even if it doesn’t look like it, it’s also a fairly loose adaptation of pride and prejudice of Jane Austen.
This feature film tells the life of Bridget, a single British woman (Renee Zellweger) who have decided to change for the better, want to lose weight, find a “nice, sensible boyfriend” and stop dating “alcoholics, workaholics, commitment phobes, voyeurs, megalomaniacs , emotional fools or perverts”.
This movie has 80% approval in rotten tomatoes. The romance between Bridget (Zellweger) and Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) is very similar to that of Elizabeth Bennett of Austen and the Sr Darcy. In addition to Darcy’s common name, it’s no coincidence that Firth also played Mr. Darcy in pride and prejudice from 1995. However, the novel is not just a love story, and Bridget Jones That is.
From Prada to Nada
It’s the Latin commitment to try to modernize Austen’s classics, but not with great success. The film released in 2011 is a modern version of mental health and feeling, as a contemporary history of the empowerment of Latin women in the United States.
The story follows Nora (Camille Belle) and Marie Dominguez (Alexa Vega), two capricious teenagers. One is a nerd studying in college and the other is a girl who loves parties and shopping. Both lead lives of affluence in Beverly Hills. The youngest even denies her Mexican roots.
When their dad dad suddenly dies, their stylish lives are turned upside down. They find themselves penniless and are forced to move into the modest but bustling home of their Aunt Aurelia (Adriana Barraza), from which he is separated, in the Latin district of Boyle Heights, in East Los Angeles.
The protagonists are terrified of leaving their world of privilege; neither Nora nor Mary speak Spanish and have had to take on any real responsibilities. The girls gradually adapt to their new environment; their BMWs and Priuses are traded in for the public bus and a used car. The film that can be seen in First video has been strongly criticized and has 20% approval.
materialistic girls
This 2006 film starring Hilary Duf and her sister Haylie Duff, is also a version of Sensitivity and feeling. It also wasn’t as successful as expected and is considered one of the worst versions of a Jane Austen classic.
The plot of Austen’s first novel follows spoiled sisters after the death of their father and the loss of their inheritance. Almost penniless, they are forced to rebuild their lives.
This film available on netflix reimagines the classic story to involve spoiled heiresses who are suddenly robbed of their family fortune when a scandal ruins the cosmetics company’s market value and they must work to rebuild the empire.
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