Few classic literary authors are as popular today as Jane Austen. Even though her last novel was published back in 1871, her works have stood the test of time and still enchant today’s audiences, proving that some characters and themes are universal. The list of movies and television shows based on Austen’s catalog is extensive and growing longer by the year; even now, there are fresh adaptations of Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice in the works. Every fan has their own favorite, but there’s little question that one particular project has received a special kind of fame: 2005’s Pride & Prejudice.
Directed by Joe Wright and starring Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet and Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy, the film was well-received at the time of its release, earning four Oscar nominations and six BAFTA noms (with Wright winning for Most Promising Newcomer). Twenty years later, it remains a pop-culture sensation and one of the most beloved Jane Austen adaptations. Cast members such as Knightley, Macfadyen, and Rosamund Pike (Jane Bennet) still comment on the film, and Darcy’s famous hand flex has inspired countless TikToks and tributes. With the official 20th anniversary arriving this month, it’s time to assess what truly makes Pride & Prejudice so special.
The Hand Flex In ‘Pride & Prejudice’ Represents More Than It Seems
On the surface, it’s easy to pick out the most appealing elements of Pride & Prejudice. The “enemies-to-lovers” setup has only grown more popular within the romance genre both onscreen and on the page, and period pieces have become a go-to staple for viewers longing for a different time, as evidenced by the success of series like Bridgerton and The Gilded Age. On a more specific level, Darcy and Elizabeth’s love story already served as the basis for another fan-favorite adaptation with 1995’s BBC miniseries.
Austen’s other novels feature equally compelling romances, but yet even though Emma and Sense and Sensibility have each received strong movies of their own (the less said about Netflix’s Persuasion, the better), none have reached the same towering heights as Pride & Prejudice. That’s because its strength goes beyond the surface-level components that people clock at first glance. To really understand why Wright’s film is so enchanting, one has to pay attention to the smaller moments.
The hand flex is undoubtedly the biggest example — so big now that it almost doesn’t count as a tiny detail. Still, it speaks to a larger force at play. The scene in question finds Darcy helping Elizabeth into a carriage as she and her family leave Netherfield following Jane’s illness. Though he has made his apparent dislike for her known, he still offers her a hand up into the carriage and, as he walks away, he flexes it by his side, as if stung by her touch. Famously, it was something Macfadyen did naturally on set, and Wright made sure to capture it.
It’s that last bit that highlights Wright’s brilliant approach to adapting Pride & Prejudice, which goes beyond switching the time period of the novel. He captured the tiny, significant moments that accumulate to form a relationship. In the crowded rush of a ball, or during a loud meal with family, quieter displays of intimacy can fall to the wayside, but they’re no less important when it comes to the foundation of a pivotal bond. When one looks closely, they can see Pride & Prejudice is filled with them.
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‘Pride & Prejudice’ Gets Into The Important Details
The hand flex is at least partially responsible for Pride & Prejudice‘s more recent resurgence, but there are several other key moments that deserve recognition as well. Another scene between Darcy and Elizabeth later on reveals just how much the former has paid attention to the latter. When Darcy offers to give Elizabeth a ride back to her inn after visiting Pemberley, she quickly asserts she prefers to walk. Very sincerely, Darcy replies, “Yes. Yes, I know.” This is the first time Elizabeth has verbalized her love of walking, indicating Darcy has picked up on it all on his own.
Wright gives Elizabeth and Darcy’s relationship further depth in other ways, such as erasing the other dancers during the Netherfield ball as the two protagonists twirl around each other, eyes locked; they are the only ones in the room. The movie’s attention to detail even goes beyond the central pair, beyond romance. Elsewhere, at that very same ball, Bingley (Simon Woods) is shown briefly grasping Jane’s dress as he trails in her wake, as if both eager to be close to her and afraid to lose her in the chaos, and Mr. Bennet (Donald Sutherland) comforts a sobbing Mary (Talulah Riley) after her musical performance is cut short, emphasizing his paternal warmth.
Every moment and carefully-planned shot comes together to form a version of Pride & Prejudice that is keenly aware of what makes love and friendship so meaningful. It’s about knowing a loved one’s truest passions and hurts, and about always wishing to be close to them. Every Jane Austen story has a memorable and compelling romance surrounded by a strong cast of characters, but it’s the 2005 Pride & Prejudice that portrays the intimacy of human connection in a way that other movies tend to forget. In paying close attention to this aspect of the story, the film has become a comfort watch that will last for decades.
- Release Date
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November 23, 2005
- Runtime
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127 minutes
- Director
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Joe Wright
- Writers
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Deborah Moggach
- Producers
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Eric Fellner, Paul Webster
- Franchise(s)
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Pride and Prejudice
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