Refreshing

Jane Austen fans may have missed this adaptation of her works

As Jane Austen marks her 250th birthday this year, fans are revisiting the celebrated author’s works.

Over the years, numerous adaptations of her novels have been created, along with fresh interpretations that draw inspiration from her books, reports the Express.

Some notable examples include Bridget Jones’s Diary, which reimagines Pride and Prejudice in a modern setting, and Clueless, which transposes Emma from Regency England to the complex social hierarchy of a 1990s Beverly Hills high school.

Additionally, there are productions like ITV’s Lost in Austen, where a contemporary woman finds herself in the world of Pride and Prejudice, and Austenland, which follows a romantic as she visits a Jane Austen-themed park in pursuit of her Regency dreams.

However, one lesser-known adaptation, featuring two Virgin River stars, is also worth watching.

On IMDb, one viewer praised the film as “brilliant”, saying: “Vibrant, colorful [sic], hilarious and lively, this movie was a sheer joy to watch. A refreshing take on an old classic.”

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Another reviewer commented: “Well, it’s pretty hard, isn’t it, to write a spoiler for a film which is based on such a well-known, well-loved novel! I will show my hand here and say that I am a Janeite.

“However, I am not a purist and I like many Jane Austen adaptations that many Janeites don’t (for example I like ‘Mansfield Park’).”

One viewer noted: “The script did a pretty good job of capturing the essence of the story whilst playing around with some of the details eg cutting out the fifth daughter whose role in the story is pretty minimal, and making the ‘tyrant’ in Darcy’s life his mother not his aunt (a more realistic situation in its modern setting).”

Another fan chimed in: “Gurinder Chadha has transported Jane Austen’s great novel to India. What a charmer this film turns out to be! The adaptation of the novel is excellent as the new locale is incorporated to the story.”

They continued: “The incredible Indian colors explode in front of our eyes giving the Western viewers such an opportunity to experience a little taste of India [sic].”

Bride and Prejudice, released in 2004, masterfully blended Bollywood and Hollywood through the lens of Jane Austen.

Directed by Gurinder Chadha of Bend It Like Beckham fame, the film offered a refreshing spin on Austen’s classic tale of Pride and Prejudice.

Bollywood icon Aishwarya Rai Bachchan took centre stage as Lalita Bakshi, who initially butts heads with the suave American businessman Will Darcy, played by Martin Henderson, before they inevitably fall for each other.

Joining Henderson was Daniel Gillies, known for his roles in Virgin River and The Originals, who portrayed his rival George Wickham – a role that amusingly mirrors their respective characters in Netflix’s romantic drama series.

The cast also boasts acclaimed Indian actor Anupam Kher, known for his roles in Bend It Like Beckham and Hotel Mumbai, Naveen Andrews of Lost and The English Patient fame, Namrata Shirodkar from Hera Pheri and Major, Indira Varma who starred in Game of Thrones and Luther, and EastEnders‘ Nitin Ganatra.

Bride and Prejudice is available to watch on Apple TV+