Persuasion (1995)

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

Fantastic!

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

It's great to have such "natural" acting, but a shame that this means a lot of mumbling and muttering in the British accent and vernacular. I have to turn up the volume very loud and still cannot make out so much that entire scenes go by where I have no idea what was said.Otherwise, just from trying to watch this film I can tell it is probably a very good movie -- IF you can understand it. If one could get a copy with good English subtitles it would be well worth it, no doubt, if your first language is not British English. (Unfortunately the only copy I have access to right now is mechanically translated, which machine is worse than me at making out what is being said!)

I absolutely loved this Persuasion, for me it is a winner both as an adaptation and on its own merits and one of my personal favourite adaptations of the books of Jane Austen. The story is beautiful and emotional, and while not always true in essence the characters are interesting and not dull. The adaptation is rather short though, but it doesn't entirely matter when it is done so well. Persuasion looks wonderful too. The costumes, locations and photography look stunning, while the piano music that accompanies the adaptation is simple and beautiful without ever being repetitive. The dialogue is sophisticated and the acting is great, complete with solid support turns from Simon Russell Beale, Susan Fleetwood, Sophie Thompson and Corin Redgrave and wonderful lead ones from Amanda Root and particularly Ciaron Hinds. In conclusion, a beautiful adaptation. 9/10 Bethany Cox

I felt a very strong connection to the characters in this film, the character of Anne, in particular. I was experiencing her emotions right along with her; more so than in any other film I've ever watched. Amanda Root does a splendid job in conveying Anne's emotions from mere facial expressions and gestures. She has very little dialog in the really emotional scenes. This reminds me of old Hollywood style films: the director paying special attention to the actress's reactions with closeups. You rarely see closeups that mean so much in newer films, newer Hollywood films anyway.Anne is quietly in love with a man 8 years after she was persuaded to refuse his proposal. When he unexpectedly arrives in her social circle once again, she must stoically bear the consequences. Knowing that she cannot tell him how much she still loves him, she sees fit not to call attention to herself, and certainly never to tell him how she feels. Her regret for having denied his love once before causes her to think that she deserves to stay out of his way, and therein suffer a penance for refusing his proposal years earlier. Perhaps most of us can relate to the jolting reality apparent on Anne's face when her rejected love's name is mentioned in conversation. Her careful mask of an expression when he tells of his life at sea is so relatable. I know that I at least, have felt similar emotions before. She tries her best not to display her feelings for the man she loves and must wait in pained agony while she listens to him speak, her love amassed merely by being in his company.Anne's character is one which is unlike most shown in film. She is kind, quiet and complacent. She isn't confrontational. But that does not make her love any less real than that of your standard heroine.This film is lovely to me. It displays two characters whose story speaks to us universally, a love story which may seem simplistic, but doesn't need all the bells and whistles found in most romances. These individuals are confined by their circumstances and are not able to tell one another their feelings. Their struggle is fascinating to watch. This film is done well enough that you're enveloped by the characters' struggle, and distracted by nothing else within the film. Unrequited love's inner struggle is a reality portrayed beautifully here, in a way I've never seen equaled.

This excellent rendition of Jane Austen's "Persuasion" tells the story of how Anne Elliot (Amanda Root) recaptures the love of Captain Frederick Wentworth (Ciaran Hinds), whom she once rejected on the advice of Lady Russell (Susan Fleetworth) because he had neither fortune nor the right connections. Hinds is perfectly cast for his role: ruggedly handsome, intense and charming. Amanda Root is even better though it is difficult to imagine that she would have been chosen for this role if the film had been made in Hollywood. She is pretty without being "movie star" beautiful. However, without obvious effort, she captures the intelligence and essential kindness that make Anne such an attractive human being in the midst of a society where snobbishness rules. I do not agree with other commentators about the surrounding cast. With the exception of Fleetwood as the social marriage broker, most of other principal actors engage in caricature as the chief means of conveying the essentials of the person they represent. Anne's father, her elder sister, her married sister, the high ranking female relative, her social climbing suitor are cartoons, not characters. Were it not for the outstanding performances by Root and Hinds, together with credible performances by some of the lesser characters, this film would not be worth seeing.