The
scriptwriter in one of the
reviews stated that this was a radically different interpretation of
Jane Austen. I suppose in some ways that is true, this is so radically
different from Jane Austen that it isn't Jane Austen at all.
Since elopement wouldn't be
understood by the general public, there are sex scenes instead. The
production turns Fanny Price from a moralistic, shy and inexperienced
heroine into a streetwise Spanish Harlot.
What Rozema seems to be attempting in this film is
to discredit Jane Austen by implying that she glorified slave trading
through writing about people whose wealth originated from
it. Perhaps she should have read Sutherland's article "Where
does Sir Thomas's Wealth Come From?" in his book "Is Heathcliff a
Murderer?" It would possibly have stopped her from making such an ass
of herself, for that is all she as done.
This is a travesty of production,
and unlike the film poster states, it is not witty, it is not
entertaining, and it is definitely thumbs down!