While I greatly love the 1995 film, this BBC production, like the other BBC Jane Austen productions, does a better job of conveying more of Austen's insights into human nature and the tension between the duty to protect the emotional and psychological state of others and the drive to pursue satisfaction of one's own emotional desires. The exploration of this tension is the great theme of Austen. The major strength of this production as compared to the 1995 version is the character of Marianne, which in turn changes and deepens the relationship of the two sisters, Marianne and Elinor. In the 1995 version Marianne is more indiscreet with Willoughby and more scornful to Elinor, rejecting all of Elinor's counsel to be more restrained. As a result, it is hard to see that the two women have any relationship at all, other than the happenstance they are sisters and live in the same house. Here, Marianne declines an improper gift from Willoughby (a horse) after Elinor explains its impropriety (this incident is not in the 1995 version), and overall, she does not let the fact that she is more passionate than Elinor lead her to be dismissive of Elinor. Thus it is possible to see why these two might be close, even before Marianne discovers how much emotion Elinor has in fact been feeling since learning of Edward Ferrars' secret engagement. And later, when their greedy brother asks them to cut-off all relations with Edward Ferrars (a scene not in the 1995 version), and Elinor springs up and refuses, Marianne also springs up and says "bravo" and then the two sisters walk out arm-in-arm. Thus we see a real bond between these sisters that we never see in the 1995 version. I liked the portrayal of the Marianne character better in this version than in the 1995. As to all the rest of the characters, the actors portray them as basically the same people as in the 1995 version, but uniformly the acting in the 1995 version is more evocative and powerful. However, I have a particular fondness for the actress here who plays Elinor, Irene Richard, because she also plays Charlotte Lucas in the 1985 BBC Pride and Prejudice, one of my great favorite productions that I have seen many times. While good sense is a hallmark of both characters, she portrays them differently; it is impossible to imagine her Elinor Dashwood marrying a buffoon as did her Charlotte Lucas marry Mr. Collins in P&P, or defer to such a one as Lady Catherine de Bourgh. I particularly liked her in a scene not in the 1995 version, where Willoughby comes to the Palmer's house in the night, drunk and wanting to see Marianne (not knowing she is very ill) and Elinor treats him with the blunt coldness he so richly deserves. I also appreciated the way this version handles the climactic ending scenes; while the 1995 is emotionally more powerful, this version has power enough.
Review of Sense and Sensibility
