Film: "Mansfield Park" (1998)

[Bob Pr.]

"Mansfield Park" (1998) 112'; (based on the Jane Austen book).
Genres: comedy, drama, romance,
IMDb: 7/10 stars: Mansfield Park (1999) - IMDb
Rotten Tomatoes: 76% critics rate it ripe: Mansfield Park - Rotten Tomatoes
Roger Ebert (4 of 4 stars): Mansfield Park :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews
Trailer: Mansfield Park - Teaser & Trailer - Trailer 1

Austen's story subtly contrasts the lot of 2 sisters; one married (for love) to a
naval officer who was later wounded, pensioned at half pay, but became an
alcoholic. The other sister marries a man for his money and connections
and this position allows her to extend some help to her poor sister's family.

Using that connection, the poor sister sends her pre-teen daughter, Fanny, to
live with her wealthy sister. This was common at the time, in a sense playing a
lottery, hoping that--upon maturing in that wealthier setting--Fanny would meet
and marry a man of means and thus be able to rescue some or all of her family.

The movie primarily shows the social life of the young unmarrieds of this English
gentry class while also presenting Fanny's dilemma: whether to go the route of
her mother or of her aunt--or, can she find any alternative in between?

Those wanting a literal translation of the book into a movie may be disappointed.
While the director (Rozema) used the book's basic plot line, she invested this film's
Fanny with much of Jane Austen's character as well as many of the experiences
and issues Austen faced in her own life. Austen's works often reflected the plight
of women trapped in that era's social system (& subtly encouraged change?); this
film version remains true to that.

Fortunately times have changed since that era but there are aspects of having to
make such decisions that remain present now and will be as long as people have
to make choices of whom to marry and why (& why to marry and whom).

Frances O'Connor (as this film's Fanny/Jane Austen) & Harold Pinter (as Sir Thomas)
were both superb.

A light period piece but with some unobtrusive, underlying serious threads.

My rating 8/10