MovieChat Forums > Persuasion (2008) Discussion > A sense of time in Persuasion

A sense of time in Persuasion

posted 8 years ago by ida96
2 replies | jump to latest

The '95 version of Persuasion is long and leisurely, with some beautiful quiet moments of conversation between characters. The story unfolds, as it does in the book, in a seeming natural progression of elements. The sadnesses and difficulties Anne faces take time to settle into our psyches. Relationships are delineated, details made to fit together, and everything somehow comes to a happy conclusion after much misunderstanding, tender feelings, pain and fear.

This 2007 version rushes through the story, quivering at each step and necessarily leaving out much detail. It's perhaps a version for children or people who are too busy to read literature. I had high hopes because much of the cast are wonderful actors I've enjoyed in other productions. But some bad choices (Mary Musgrove -- what the devil happened there?) in casting and directing, as well as a failure of storytelling (that mad dash Anne had to do to tie up the story) marred this version to the point that I will not ever watch it again.

[–] Julie-30 8 years ago

Believe it or not, these 2 versions are pretty similar in length. 2007 is 93 minutes long, and 1995 is 107 minutes.

But I agree with you -- 1995 feels so much longer and gives us so much more of the story. I love '95 and re-watch it regularly. I wanted to love '07, but just cannot.

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[–] biscuvity 8 years ago

I watched this version a couple of days ago and came to this board afterwards. Your post made me aware of 1995 version (then I looked it up on IMDB but could not find it easily - it says "Screen Two" in the title??). Anyway, just finished watching that version. Even though technically there is not much time difference between the two, I agree with you about feeling it longer and leisurely. I think it is mainly because of the characters.

The characters in 1995 version seem to be in a slower pace. You do not rush into their existence or actions, you get to know them, understand them, especially Anne. Anne in version 2007 is all the time breathless with half open mouth, oh my, I myself felt breathless when she was running the marathon in the end. But in 1995 version, you can see how she changes over time, a subtle and yet very meaningful change that makes her shine more and more, all the while being calm and in a relaxed manner. Even her hairdo made me feel more relaxed as an audience. Hinds' Wentworth is softer too, in his actions. Somehow the 2007 Wentworth feels harsher and that's why when he confessed to his friend about how he still had feelings for Anne, it felt out of place for me. But with Hinds' Wentworth, it felt more natural. Even the nature seems calmer - like the sea..

Anyway, I had more or less enjoyed 2007 version but only after seeing that of 1995, I fell in love with the story and characters.

hellew