I definitely had my pros and cons (and prons, as I did with PPZ), but I mostly enjoyed it, and it certainly made for some interesting conversation. AND it has me mulling over some Austen stuff that I don't think I've mulled before, and I've mulled it all. I attribute this more to the conversations we were having around the movie, rather than the movie itself, which is why I love having these twitter chats (and why you should join in next year!)
Presented below, for those of you who missed it, is some of the highlights of Tuesday night's discussion. If you've seen the film, or just have LADY SUSAN THOUGHTS, please weigh in in the comments!
It's funny to me to see a manipulative character like Lady S front & center because I've always thought Austen's strength 1/#AustenInAugust— Misty (@TheBookRat) August 30, 2017
... really DOES lie with the "villains" and unlikeable characters. 2/#AustenInAugust— Misty (@TheBookRat) August 30, 2017
She does romance well & spirit well, but horrible people EXCELLENTLY. #AustenInAugust— Misty (@TheBookRat) August 30, 2017
I don't know if I have expressed this here before. I may have alluded to it in our Janeite chats about worst characters and situations, and such, or any time I've talked about Mary Musgrove, but I really, truly think Jane Austen's real genius lies in rendering absolutely horrible people.
Yes!— Misty (@TheBookRat) August 30, 2017
She clearly had a lot to draw from & enjoyed it, because they are exactingly rendered.#AustenInAugust https://t.co/d405ha0vQb
As for the movie itself, my biggest complaint was that I found it to be rather disjointed.
I wasn't alone in this.
This *may* be because I'm tweeting & not paying enough attn, but this seems slightly disjointed to me. Anyone else?#AustenInAugust— Misty (@TheBookRat) August 30, 2017
Though that said, I LOVED the cast. . .
Sir James Martin is a freaking hoot ! #austeninaugust— Karen M Cox (@KarenMCox1932) August 30, 2017
Sir James Martin MIGHT be my new favorite character. I'm DYING! 😂#AustenInAugust— Misty (@TheBookRat) August 30, 2017
and did like some of the clever "adaptationy" things. . .
Another nod to the epistolary format. 👍#AustenInAugust— Misty (@TheBookRat) August 30, 2017
He's reading the punctuation! 😂😂😂#AustenInAugust— Misty (@TheBookRat) August 30, 2017
There are moments of pure brilliance. . .
"Had I let you starve a little bit more, you would resist much less."#AustenInAugust— Misty (@TheBookRat) August 30, 2017
If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more...
But the real revelations of the night, that made me grow a little sympathy for Lady S., and look at the story a bit differently, were conversations like this:
Susan talking about Sir James & women of no means having to put up w/ worse is 1 thing that makes my sympathize w/ her#AustenInAugust— Misty (@TheBookRat) August 30, 2017
Her machinations aren't without reason (even if that reason is often her own amusement/vanity/benefit)#AustenInAugust— Misty (@TheBookRat) August 30, 2017
Yes! And so, is Lady S. to be praised, then? She uses the tools at her disposal. She plays the game & wins.#AustenInAugust https://t.co/Y0SRc1X59X— Misty (@TheBookRat) August 30, 2017
and mostly THIS, which is a topic I VERY MUCH want to explore with you in the future. . .
Do you think Austen is painting her as a sort of sociopath? Did she have a sociopath in her life, for basis? #AustenInAugust— Misty (@TheBookRat) August 30, 2017
It's actually an interesting thing to think on, mental illness in Jane Austen novels. Anyone written about that?#AustenInAugust— Misty (@TheBookRat) August 30, 2017
it's not just Lady S. that may make a good case study.— Misty (@TheBookRat) August 30, 2017
Think Lady Catherine -- she's a mess of potential diagnoses!#AustenInAugust
A retelling with Lady C. and Munchausen by Proxy would be interesting.#AustenInAugust— Misty (@TheBookRat) August 30, 2017
I thought Mrs. Norris or even Wickham might be candidates.— Sophia Rose (@sophiarose1816) August 30, 2017
Absolutely.— Misty (@TheBookRat) August 30, 2017
Also, Mr. Woodhouse (hypochondria?).
Mary Musgrove (lord! Where to start?)
This is a fun game, actually!#AustenInAugust https://t.co/GG58aHOofn
I have another one! Sir Elliot, narcissistic personality disorder. FOR SURE.#AustenInAugust— Misty (@TheBookRat) August 30, 2017
In all, I'd definitely recommend the movie (even if you haven't read Lady Susan), and I wish I'd seen it before writing my discussion questions for the book. I would SO have included a question about mental health and personality disorders.
I'm kinda kicking myself for that.
Ah, well. Next year!
Please, do let me know your thoughts in the comments, and if there was anything about the book or film that stood out to you, that you think bears talking about!
And if you have recommendations or requests for next year's movie night, let me know! I think I want to do more than one film next year. =D
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Your comments on mental health really got me to thinking after that night, too.
ReplyDeletegreat discussion; wish I'd been able to join the group screening. I loved this movie, and it would be hard to imagine a more perfect writer/director/Janeite than Whit Stillman to adapt Lady Susan. Which was no small feat--an epistolary novel with a pretty unsympathetic anti-heroine. I am in awe of what he accomplished. I laugh just thinking about the actor playing James Martin.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the highlights of your discussions! And thanks for another fabulous Austen in August!!!