Pride and Prejudice in the Film Adaption Sphere

I used some of my time today to watch a Pride and Prejudice film adaption. This movie put a modern twist on one of Jane Austen’s classically timeless novels by having it be a Bollywood movie based in India. The decision to have “Bride and Prejudice” as a Bollywood adaption was a great way for the movie adaptors to hold on to the customs and traditions found in Austen’s novel: the arranged marriages, importance of dances (whether it be both the noun and/or the verb), and the transfer of class differences to cultural ones. Class is still apart of this adaption’s narrative, but it is just in a subcategory of sorts underneath the cultural differences, especially where Darcy is concerned.

The cultural differences are the driving force behind this movie, and the main obstacle the main characters have to overcome. The translation of social and civility issues to ones of surrounding culture was a great way to transform Austen’s work for a more modern audience. The importance of letters and writing was kept, but in the form of emailing and constantly checking an inbox instead looking for letters in the foyer. The discussions surrounding pride like ones in the novel come up twice, but in comparison to the discussions about cultural differences, the ones about pride are fleeting.

Another choice the adaptors made was to make Darcy American, which I thought was an excellent decision. It further emphasized the things he and Lalita would have to overcome such as the cultural differences like family dynamics, marriage, social gatherings, and many more. Looking at another character, Wickham was kept British for this adaption, which I thought was very fitting. Britain’s history of imperialism and colonization in India creates a subtle foreshadowing of his true character.

I found this adaption of Pride and Prejudice to be a very refreshing take from the exact copies that are often seen. They kept all the main plot points while still being concise and not drawing out the movie.