Becoming Jane (2007)
Becoming Jane is a 2007 BBC film documenting the life of Jane Austen and her one ill-fated romance, as she pens ‘Pride and Prejudice’ influenced by her own aspirations and experiences. Most of the film is set in the 1790s during her youth, but it ends with her as an older woman after the publication of her most famous novel.
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I’d never seen this or heard of this film before I thrifted it last Friday, but I’ve been excited to watch it because I’m a big fan of Jane Austen’s works and I’ve never seen a dramatisation of her own life. I think what’s really special about this film is that unlike screen versions of her stories that are romanticised, Becoming Jane feels very real and that’s what it sets out to do.
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It boasts a stellar cast and this is another thing that encouraged me to bring it home, including Anne Hathaway as the titular character alongside James McAvoy, Julie Walters, Oliver Cromwell and Maggie Smith. I couldn’t believe it hadn’t crossed my radar but I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to watch it.
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One of my favourites scenes is the cricket match, as Jane steps up to the wicket and surprises the crowd with her skill and determination. It’s information like this that the film delivers wonderfully, as I’d no idea Jane was a fan of the sport and it definitely defies the constraints of what it meant to be a woman at the time.
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Much of Becoming Jane was filmed in Ireland, despite being set in Hampshire where I live, because of the more preserved natural landscapes fitting with the time period of the film. It was really cool to hear my home town Basingstoke mentioned in the dialogue, a place Jane often frequented, living in nearby Steventon for most of her life.
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One thing I did think could have been more developed is the soundtrack, but Anne Hathaway’s storytelling really drives itself. Her Jane is so charismatic and soft, but has a bold edge unafraid of speaking her mind whilst also caring deeply for those around her. James McAvoy was as incredible as ever, building a character that gives basis to Mr Darcy. I’ll never tire of seeing Maggie Smith or Julie Walters on my screen, and Oliver Cromwell gave a great performance too. There’s even a cameo from Helen McCrory which was unexpected but very special.
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The hair, makeup and costume department did a lovely job at bringing the Regency era to life, and I loved the way the camera department framed each scene. Most of the costumes were made especially for the movie to create a specific look, and this attention to detail really pays off. The behind-the-scenes includes a look into all of these faculties alongside the filming of various scenes, a trailer, deleted scenes and a photo gallery.
