Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice could easily be regarded as one of the most popular classic novels of all time, with over 20 million copies being sold since it’s publishing in 1813. Since then multiple adaptations have been created from the 1940 film, to the 1995 BBC miniseries, to playful modern retellings such as Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001), and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016). It is worth noting however, that none compare to Joe Wright‘s 2005 adaptation of Austen’s source material.

This specific adaptation of Pride and Prejudice may not be the most accurate with the lengthy novel being condensed into a 2 hour and 9 minute feature, but its stellar performances, gorgeous cinematography, and heaps of yearning that continues to impact new generations of romantics all around the world make it well worth the watch.

In regards to the performances, Kiera Knightly and Matthew Macfadyen portray Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, respectfully, and they both do a fantastic job at making you feel every emotion of the characters. Matthew Macfadyen portrays Mr. Darcy’s initial mysteriousness with a subtle ease that lets the viewers slip into slowly loving him in real time with Elizabeth. Kiera Knightly allows the audience to live through Elizabeth as her initial fiery distaste for Mr. Darcy makes us feel the same, making their eventual marriage and love feel all the more passionate. In the theatrical American version of the movie, the pair even kisses, which was not depicted in the novel, but the effective slow build up of emotions on part of Knightly and Macfadyen makes this moment extremely effective and a welcome departure from accuracy.

In regard to the cinematography, the opening oner which tracks Elizabeth walking through Longbourne does a brilliant job at establishing our immediate characters. Later, at the Neverfield Ball when Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy dance for the first time, there is also a particular eye-level shot which depicts everyone else at the ball disappearing from sight, reflecting their internal feelings and focus on one another, a unique visual element that increases the romantic atmosphere, that the book did not achieve in the same way

Finally, the scene where Mr. Darcy admits his feelings to Elizabeth has raised an entire generation of yearning youth. The iconic scene is the ultimate release of emotion for the audience, and has been proudly shared across social media platforms amongst other scenes of Mr. Darcy, leading to him taking an iconic position in yearning culture.

Ultimately, this adaptation is an iconic imagining of the material despite the ways in which it departs from the original text. In a way it fully reinvigorated interest for the text within youth culture and has lend itself to Jane Austen’s iconic legacy very effectively.

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