If you have read the book it’s based on, you likely already favour one adaptation over another. And though I recognize there are many beautifully executed versions of Pride and Prejudice — the BBC series, most notably — the 2005 film simply shines brightest.
Wright’s version makes Jane Austen’s novel come to life through rich cinematography, nuanced characters, and a brilliant score. Austen’s overall humour is implemented into the storytelling of the film through her Regency-era caricatures and quick wit. While the film preserves the novel’s core elements, it isn’t faithful to a fault; instead, it accentuates the dramatic aspects of Austen’s story through artistic liberties taken by Wright, enhancing the viewing experience.
The actors play their roles so convincingly that period-drama queen Keira Knightley becomes Elizabeth Bennet, and big names like Rosamund Pike and Carey Mulligan simply turn into Bennet sisters.
While Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen) remain the focus — with their restrained, slow-burn romance balanced by the perfect amount of pining — the film also gives other characters dimension through their own situations, just as in Austen’s story.
On the surface, Pride and Prejudice, is thought of as a love story — and it is — but the film highlights just how much more lies beneath. Alongside the central theme of love, the story is about virtue, independence, family dynamics, and navigating societal expectations of womanhood and marriage. Not only are all these ideas prevalent across the film through character portrayal and plot progression, but the details of Austen’s world make the story what it is. No character in Austen’s world is without fault and Wright emphasizes that in his film.
Austen’s world is vivacious, but it is ultimately human. Viewers and readers alike can see Pride and Prejudice as a story of intertwined lives, shaped by the conflicts and resolutions born from each character’s search for personal contentment.
There’s a reason we still watch the 2005 adaptation. No matter how many times we’ve seen it, we all still root for Elizabeth and Darcy from beginning to end — even as they spend much of the runtime mortally offending each other.
If there is any doubt at all about how essential Wright’s Pride & Prejudice is to the modern day cultural zeitgeist, I must emphasize that the lines “You have bewitched me body and soul” and “I’ve no money and no prospects. I’m already a burden to my parents” are still recognized and referenced often. Additionally, the hand flex scene is swooned over by many fans — myself very much included — and might just be one of the most intimate moments in cinema history. Perhaps it’s moments like this — when the film becomes deeply personal — that explain why it lingers with so many of us long after the credits roll. I was first introduced to it in a high school social studies class, and it has certainly stuck with me ever since. The 2005 adaptation holds a special nostalgia, and it’s become a shared obsession among my friends — endlessly quoted and rewatched. It may not be everyone’s favourite, but it absolutely is mine. From the jubilance of ballroom dances to the heartache of rain-drenched confessions — Pride & Prejudice is the ultimate period drama.
20 years have passed since its release and Hollywood loves a revamp: a Netflix Pride and Prejudice series with Olivia Colman is currently in the works. While I look forward to the newest installment, until it is released, I’ll continue to watch the 2005 version and giggle as Mr. Collins (Tom Hollander) extols the virtues of those “excellent boiled potatoes.”
