Emma (1996)

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Movie
German title Jane Austen's Emma
Original title Emma
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1996
length 121 minutes
Age rating FSK 12
Rod
Director Douglas McGrath
script Douglas McGrath
production Patrick Cassavetti
Steven Haft
music Rachel Portman
camera Ian Wilson
cut Lesley Walker
occupation

Emma is an American literary film adaptation from 1996. It is based on the novel of the same name by Jane Austen . Directed by Douglas McGrath and starring Gwyneth Paltrow , Ewan McGregor , Greta Scacchi and Jeremy Northam .

action

Highbury, a rural parish in England in the early 19th century. Emma Woodhouse, a well-off young woman of 21 years, has lived alone with her older father on the family home since her older sister and her former nanny got married. A welcome guest is her brother-in-law, Mr. Knightley. The intelligent and righteous bachelor, who is in his prime marriage age in his mid-thirties, visits occasionally. She has known him since childhood. Together they operate z. B. archery and indulge in witty exchanges of blows. Other than that, there's not much going on in Emma Woodhouse's life.

When Emma makes the acquaintance of Harriet Smith - a young woman of little class - she tries to be her friend and to marry her off with an appropriate match. Emma judges the advances made by farmer Robert Martin Harriet negatively. She moves Harriet to reject his marriage proposal. As a suitable candidate, you have Mr. Elton, the local clergyman, in mind. In fact, the latter seems to be interested in Miss Smith, which Emma thinks she can tell from his praise for a portrait of Harriet that she drew. However, on Christmas Eve, hope suddenly shatters. In an unobserved moment, Mr. Elton confesses to Emma that he loves her and wants to marry her. He is downright horrified when Emma asks him about her friend because he thinks Harriet is far below his dignity. Emma, ​​in turn, is appalled that Mr. Elton dared to keep an eye on herself. A short time later, the offended and injured Mr. Elton marries a young lady named Augusta Hawkins. Augusta Hawkins is the amusing caricature of a presumptuous and conceited nouveau riche.

The next change is approaching in the shape of the charming Frank Churchill. Emma expects to fall in love with him herself, but she doesn't. In an ironic scene, she analyzes whether she is in love, if so, how much, and which symptoms can be used to diagnose love. Meanwhile, Frank Churchill is secretly engaged to Jane Fairfax, a penniless but clever and highly educated orphan from Highbury and niece of the neighbor Miss Bates. The two keep their affection for each other a secret, since Frank is dependent on a rich heir aunt who would not tolerate such a connection. Frank flirts with Emma as a disguise and is considered her admirer.

After Emma behaves unfairly to Miss Bates, an impoverished old maid of the town, at a picnic, her boyfriend, Mr. Knightley, takes her harshly into court for believing the bad behavior is a sign of the ruinous influence of Frank Churchill. Emma, ​​who knows exactly how mean she was, is devastated. She wants to restore Mr. Knightley's good opinion of her and seeks out Miss Bates. Mr. Knightley surprisingly goes to London to see his brother.

When Harriet tells her that she has fallen in love with Mr. Knightley, Emma is amazed; when Harriet also suspects that he is reciprocating her feelings, Emma realizes very quickly that she herself not only appreciates Mr. Knightley, but loves him. Despite her own feelings, she assures Harriet that Mr. Knightley is the last man to play feelings he doesn't have to a woman.

The knot loosens when Frank Churchill's heiress dies and Frank is able to make his engagement to Jane Fairfax public. Mr. Knightley rushes to Emma, ​​fearing that Emma has been hurt by the unfaithful Frank, and wants to comfort her. Emma assures him of her indifference to Frank, and Mr. Knightley, long in love with Emma, ​​begins to hope. He admits that he loves Emma and that he only went away because he was jealous and suspected that she loved Mr. Churchill. They get married, and since Harriet finally becomes Robert Martin's wife, Emma's happiness is complete.

Reviews

"A subtly entertaining portrayal of morals about the difference between wishes and sayings, opinions and actions."

- film service 7/1997

"The plot based on the successful novel by Jane Austen is on the one hand left in its historical context, but on the other hand it expands into a comedy of strived for and prevented relationships that could just as easily take place in modern times."

- Lexicon of international film

Awards

Rachel Portman won an Oscar in 1996 for her music for the film . The film was also nominated for an Oscar in the Best Costumes category.

The German Film and Media Evaluation FBW in Wiesbaden awarded the film the title valuable.

Further adaptations

In 1972 the television series Emma was made , and in 1996 the television film Emma with Kate Beckinsale in the title role. In 2009, a four-part television adaptation followed with Emma .

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Emma. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used