I first published this review in October of 2009 when Emma aired on the BBC, so some of the links and broadcast references will be out of date.
I apologize for lagging on the latest updates, but I’m pretty sure I’m only inconveniencing maybe three people, all of whom have actually watched the adaptation already. Industry, patience, blah blah blah. ANYWAY.
My initial enthusiasm for this adaptation has not only returned, it has been surpassed. Episode one showed promise, episode two was a teense off-putting, episode three brought the excitement back, and episode four hit the ball out of the park!
Will follow up with some thoughts on this second installment a bit later. May I just say that I love Mr. Knightley? Jonny Lee Miller is super. Yes. And the perfect age. Ha.
From the Episode 3 preview, it’s clear there are gonna be alphabet puzzles. HUZZAH!
Episode 2 airs on Sunday, October 11 on BBC 1 and should be posted to the site just after. Here’s the schedule, for handy reference.
"Emma (Romola Garai) pays careful attention to Jim O'Hanlon's direction while Harriet (Louise Dylan) is more interested in the authentic produce carefully positioned in her basket." (BBC 1)
First, a disclaimer: I wrote this in haste, late sunday night. Since, I’ve been adding thoughts and clarifications as I remember them or as they strike me. So. Bear with me as this thing grows and changes.
Having seen episode one, I want to say that this is gonna be good. So far, it IS good – much better than I expected. Every frame is beautifully composed and shot. The colors and textures are amazing. The writing is solid and the story hangs together well without sacrificing important plot elements from the novel (though some of these elements are somewhat scattered). In fact, at four hours long, this could be the definitive Emma adaptation we’ve all be wishing for (alphabet puzzles, please! So far, only E3 has provided those).
“First english edition.Austen had a falling out with her first publisher Egerton over publication of Mansfield Park and transferred to John Murray, who published the second edition of that title and the first edition of Emma on the same terms: each was published at the author’s expense, with profits to the author after payment of a 10% commission to the publisher. In keeping with Murray’s stated views on edition sizes, 2000 copies were printed. Emma is also the only one of Jane Austen’s novels to bear a dedication (to the Prince Regent). –Gilson A8.”
“Sonam’s clothes for the movie have been designed by fashion designer Rehane. Though Rehane is not Delhi-based, she’s participated in fashion weeks in Delhi, and has also designed the clothes for Sonam in the movie. “I have actually done the western look for her. I was supposed to do the Indian look as well, but couldn’t because of my commitment to the fashion weeks that are to follow,†says the Chennai-based designer.”
I guess this means that Mona May isn’t working on the film after all? Or perhaps she’s working on special pieces, as Rehane is only doing the “western” portion of Sonam’s wardrobe.
