Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Let's talk about: Becoming Jane


I just watched Becoming Jane starring Anne Hathaway as Jane Austen and James McAvoy as Tom Lefroy.
Having recently read a biography about Jane, I felt like I knew a little more about what was being depicted in the film. I noticed where they embellished or changed things from the general opinion of how they actually were. But I still felt like they did a good job. 
The problem is, I don't know that much about Jane Austen. 
Even after reading the biography, I feel like I have so much more research to do to really know her. 
I think we get a good feel for her humor and interests through her books and letters but it is hard to really make a movie about a love story that no one really knows that much about. 
We know that he spoke of having loved Jane Austen when he was older. 
But as far as I can tell, most of the movie's interactions between the two are fiction. 
Having said that, I still really enjoyed the film. 
I am already a fan of both of these leading actors and I felt like they brought a lot to their characters. 
Anne fit the idea of Jane that I have in my head. Maybe not as much in looks as in spirit and fire.


And James... well James McAvoy can pretty much charm me in every movie he is in. 
But even more so when he is in period clothing and dancing. 





This movie makes you really wish that they had ended up together which then opens up all sorts of discussion questions. 
Such as: Do you think if Jane had married and had children and lived the "normal" life of a woman of that time period that she would have written the novels that she did?
How would that kind of life have affected her? 
Would we even know who she is?
I would like to think that she could have been a happily married wife and mother and still given the world her books, but that is something we will never know. 

If you are looking for a good period romance, I think you will really enjoy this movie. 

Here is the original trailer: 


3 comments:

Donna said...

I really liked this movie. It's fascinating to think about how Jane might have turned out differently had she married. I like to think that she would have produced the same wonderful works, and maybe some others that would have been inspired by her own married life. I bet she could have written some really fun things about married life!

The Kings said...

Good questions! I have wondered that too. I really enjoyed the movie and hope to read the book about Jane before the year is out!!

Cheryl said...

I agree Donna. I think she could have written a lot more!