The Maliciousness Of Innocence

Title: Emma.

Rating: 5 Stars

Since this is one of the dead times of the year for film, I haven’t gone to a movie theater for several weeks. With at best modest expectations, I went to see Emma (the title actually includes a period to identify it as a period piece, yeah, cute, I know).

Most are probably familiar with the plot, either from reading the Jane Austen novel or seeing the film adaptation starring Gywneth Paltrow or the film Clueless. Emma (Anya Taylor-Joy) is the youngest daughter of a wealthy upper class father. As such, she is headstrong, spoiled, and doesn’t even have a shadow of self doubt.

Believing that she has the perfect ability to read people, she actively engages in matchmaking. Believing that she has unparalleled skills as an artist and musician, she willingly performs. She is the undisputed queen of her universe.

Her best friend is Harriet (Mia Goth). A young woman of uncertain parentage, Emma takes her under her wing and tries to raise her up to a match beyond her level. Harriet is already in love with a successful but only middle class farmer and he reciprocates her affection. However, confident that Harriet can do better, Emma convinces her to turn down the farmer’s proposal for a better match with the vicar. The vicar is actually courting Emma, much to her naive astonishment. The vicar indignantly refuses to even consider Harriet, so thanks to Emma she is now in danger of no attachment (gasp!).

George Knightley (Johnny Flynn) is Emma’s next door neighbor. They have known each other their entire lives and at first seem to have a relationship akin to brother / sister. As such, George thinks that gives him license to criticize Emma’s behavior, much to her annoyance. Under the surface it’s clear that they are in love.

Emma continues to make wrong decisions that badly affect other people. Jane Fairfax (Amber Anderson) appears on the scene and soon proves herself to be a more talented musician than the frankly mediocre Emma, much to Emma’s chagrin. Emma is thoughtlessly cruel to a bothersome but sweet Miss Bates (Myra McFadyen), Jane’s aunt, who has fallen on hard times.

All of this causes Emma to realize how selfish, misguided, and inconsiderate she has been. Of course, she must have her comeuppance. And since this is a romantic comedy, she will emerge from it much chastened, a better person, and in love. It goes without saying that all people that she might have hurt through her previous actions all end up with happy fates.

This was directed by first time director Autumn de Wilde. She has a background in photography, and it shows. The film is beautifully shot. Exterior shots makes the English countryside look almost impossibly beautiful. Interior shots luxuriate in the ancient elegance of the English upper class.

It’s safe to say that the English upper class does not come out of this looking too good. Mr Woodhouse (Bill Nighy) is a hilarious hypochondriac constantly imagining drafts and can’t imagine living a life without Emma. None of the rest are particularly better. Minor inconveniences such as a crying baby causes panic and a desperate search for a servant to help them. The servants don’t say a line in the film, but their nearly invisible presence clearly is the only thing that is keeping the upper class functioning.

In addition to being useless, they are also foppish. In particular, the men wear absurd clothes. They wear so many layers that they can’t even dress themselves. Their collars are so high that they can barely turn their heads and essentially serve as blinders.

The acting is quite wonderful. Nighy is particularly good as the father. Goth, as Harriet, brings a lighthearted, innocent light to her character.

In a film called Emma, it all pretty much rests upon the actor playing Emma. Taylor-Joy brings to the role the exact right combination of innocence, beauty, charm, vanity, and steely self-assuredness. Watching all of this play across her face as Emma tries to display complete self composure is fascinating. She can express exactly what Emma’s feeling threw a faint raising of an eyebrow or pursing of her lips.

If you’re in the mood for a precious jewel box of a period English romantic comedy, Emma (with a period!) should exactly fit your bill.