Generally, I am not a fan of making new years resolutions. Mainly because you usually never stick to them, or making you feel worse for not keeping them the longer the year goes on. I am tired of making resolutions like 'getting fitter' or 'losing weight'. They never work, or they only work for a short while and then you eat again and the weight comes back quicker than before. Therefore, I've decided to set a little challenge for myself. I wanted to read more and watch more films, generally, do things that I'm interested in. Hence I tried to challenge myself to read one book a month that has been adopted into a film and watch the film as well. I'm trying to do one a month and I've made a neat little schedule of books and films that I can watch each month. As I was beginning the year, I decided to start with a good, old, Jane Austen. Austen can never do me wrong and I've enjoyed reading her books so far, but the one I choose was always one I couldn't get through. I am talking about Sense & Sensibility.
I've read Pride & Prejudice when I was about 14/15 and fell in love with the story and its character. It wasn't long after since the 2005 Pride & Prejudice film came out and I fell deeply in love with that particular adaptation and its story. However, when I wanted to read Sense & Sensibility after, I found it a "rip off" and couldn't connect with the characters. Since then I've read other stories by Jane Austen, but never quite wanted to start Sense & Sensibility again. That is until I saw the 1996 adaptation with Emma Thompson and thought to myself "If Emma likes it, I surely must". Thus, for the first month of 2018, I immersed myself in Austen's debut novel Sense & Sensibility (1811).
I didn't quite realize how funny the story was. Characters made me chuckle and I felt like I was watching a spectacle from afar. As someone who has read some Jane Austen before, I could guess it had a "happy ending" but I was still curious to see how ended up where and with whom. Mind you, the film has taken out huge chunks of the novel, playing with its character in a bold matter and actually only six or seven lines from the whole novel made it into the film. Nonetheless, the novel and its accompanying film are hugely alike. Emma Thompson wrote the screenplay and creates a story that keeps its force as a study of class and money and character, but aims mostly for sheer pleasure and keeps it funny. You almost forget that essentially, this novel is all about the cash.
It was a joy to read the book and a laugh to see the film. Even though not many lines from the book were kept for the film, the essential storyline came through beautifully and the actors were wonderful. Everyone is still so young and full of shine and it was wonderful to venture into this story and its characters. It also reminded me of how much of a badass Emma Thompson is. She also kept a diary during the film, from which I've read parts and she is just amazing. I keep remembering these two quotes that, in my opinion, sums up Emma Thompson's genius:
"Very nice lady served us drinks at the hotel and was followed in by a cat. We al crooned at it. Alan (Rickman) to the cat (very low and meaning it): "Fuck off." The nice lady didn't turn a hair. The cat looked slightly embarrassed but stayed."
"Kate (Winslet) came down stone stairs very carefully to protect her leg, slipped and hurt her wrist. She's at the hospital now, having an X-ray. Frankly, I'm not expecting her to survive the night."
I mean... come on! If only we all could have been there during the filming of this film. Frankly, I think she and Jane Austen would have been fast friends. We also shouldn't forget her masterful speech at the Golden Globes for winning best film (and the Oscar later that award season). Also, check out this wonderful Guardian film review by Paul Laity.
Next on my list: the Color Purple for February (and Black History Month).
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