Persuasion

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Adrian Shergold directs. David Odd behind the camera. Martin Phipps scores. Kristina Hetherington cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 1Released 19 years ago.
• 2International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.
• 3Directed by Adrian Shergold, shot by David Odd. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 4Original score by Martin Phipps. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 5Editor Kristina Hetherington shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 6Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones and Alice Krige carry the top of the cast.
• 7IMDB entry: tt0844330 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
• 8Released under 18 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography

David Odd

Original score

Martin Phipps

Editing

Kristina Hetherington

Runtime

93 min · 1h 33m

Aspect ratio (typical)

1.37:1 (Academy)

Status

Released

Original language

EN

IMDB

Persuasion (2007) ↗

IMDB rating

7.4/10 · 16,883 votes

MPAA

Not Rated

Also by

Adrian Shergold

• 
  The Second Coming

  2003 · ★ 9.0
• 
  Swallow

  2001 · ★ 9.0
• 
  The Window

  2021 · ★ 8.7
• 
  Danielle Cable: Eyewitness

  2003 · ★ 8.5
• 
  Close Relations

  1990 · ★ 8.0
• 
  Births, Marriages and Deaths

  1999 · ★ 8.0

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

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Community reviews

What people are saying

• Peter McGinn2020-04-05
  ★ 9/10

  You may well ask, why should you watch this particular version of Jane Austen's Persuasion? well, settle in and let me tell you. I think I own almost every filmed version of every Austen novel. I find different strengths and weaknesses in all of them, but I would not trash any of them the way people do some versions because they don't stay true enough to the books. I write novels myself in my spare time and - were I lucky enough (or good enough) to have any made into a film - I would not be offended if they were changed. Books and movies have different needs and ways of telling a story. That said, I really love this interpretation of Persuasion. I greatly appreciate how British productions often don't automatically lunge for the most beautiful or most handsome actors and actresses for their lead roles, as American productions are apt to do. Sally Hawkins is by no means ugly, but she is almost homely in some of her scenes, such as when she is weeping. I read a criticism in a review of how the actors stare into the camera, but I think Sally is at her most masterful doing just that, looking right at us, such as in the very first scene, or the weeping scene I just mentioned. Her facial expression changes are sometimes dramatic and other times subtle but still very effective. I think all of the acting is wonderful here, from the effete snob father right down through to the many minor characters. I do admit I was a bit mystified by one aspect of the ending. I will try not to give it away to those who may actually be deciding whether to watch it, but the book's ending is changed for the film, which as I said above, isn't a problem for me in itself. There are enough versions of Austen movies or mini-series out there that I am fine with each doing some interpreting. And in this version, they want to make the final scene more dramatic. That is fine. But what struck me as weird was that Anne follows a character out the front door just seconds behind him, but that person is nowhere to be seen on the street, and she goes off in pursuit. It wouldn't have taken much to have Anne be delayed leaving just long enough to make it realistic that there would be no sign of him when she steps outside. But I forgive them that oddity. Perhaps it was the result of an editing room dilemma. Also in that scene they show her walking from above, which makes for a strange angle. Since then I have seen that technique used more, so perhaps it is a new thing. The music by Martin Phipps is also wonderful, moody and rich. I am surprised that the soundtrack was not made available (the last time I checked). The closest I have come to finding it was, oddly enough, a CD called H2O by the Canadian nature CD producer Dan Gibson. It is similar to the main theme music of the movie, though obviously not the same thing.

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• 

  Clerkenwell Films

  GB

• 

  GBH

  US

Key crew

• NovelJane Austen
• ProducerDavid Snodin
• Executive ProducerMurray Ferguson
• Executive ProducerRebecca Eaton
• EditorKristina Hetherington
• Development ProducerAndy Baker

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• navy
• based on novel or book
• love triangle
• poetry
• love

Release history · US

When it landed

• TV2008-01-13· PBS

Also known as

International titles

• PersuasionGB
• PersuasionUS
• Persuasion: A Jane Austen ClassicAU
• UvjeravanjeBA
• Jane Austen's PersuasionDE
• PersuasiónES
• Viisasteleva sydänFI
• ÖvertalningFI
• PersuasionFR
• PeithoGR
• NagovorHR
• Tartózkodó érzelemHU
• PersuasioneIT
• PerswazjePL
• PersuasiuneRO