Mansfield Park (film)

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Mansfield Park

Directed by	Patricia Rozema
Produced by	David Aukin Colin Leventhal Trea Leventhal David M. Thompson
Written by	Jane Austen (novel) Patricia Rozema
Starring	Frances O'Connor Jonny Lee Miller
Editing by	Martin Walsh
Distributed by	MGM
Release date(s)	27 August 1999 (Montréal Film Festival)
Running time	112 min.
Language	English
IMDb profile

Mansfield Park is a UK film loosely based on Jane Austen's novel of the same name, written and directed by Patricia Rozema in 1999. The film differs sharply from the original novel in many respects. For example, the life of Jane Austen is incorporated into the film and the issues of slavery and plantations as well. The majority of the film was made at Kirby Hall in Northamptonshire.

The story follows Fanny Price, who's sent to live with the Bertram family. When she first gets there, she's starts to cry after missing her family. As she's in the room crying, Edmund walks in. Along the course of their relationship, they grow closer and become close friends. As an adult, Fanny captures the eyes of Henry Crawford. Fanny doesn't like Henry as she doesn't believe he can be trusted. After being told by Sir Thomas Bertram to marry Mr Crawford, she doesn't accept his agreement. She eventually chooses to go back home instead of marry Henry Crawford. At home, she finally meets her sister Susie, who she had been writing to since she left home. Days after being back at home, she receives a letter from Edmund. He tells her that he plans on marrying Mary Crawford, Henry Crawford's sister. When she finds out that he's planning on getting married, she finally accepts Henry Crawford's proposal after numerous rejections. Though the engagement doesn't last long after Fanny realises she can't go through with the marriage. The next day, Edmund arrives at Fanny's house. He tells her that his brother Tom is ill and that he's near death. Edmund then takes Fanny back home to the Bertram house. After they arrive, Fanny sees Henry Crawford. That night Henry and the married sister of Edmund, Maria sleep together. They are interrupted when Fanny walks in on them. Fanny then walks out and tells Edmund, who runs inside the room and realises her sister's adultery. When Edmund goes to Fanny, they nearly kiss but pull back. As news spread of the incident, Mary Crawford blames Fanny. She tells Fanny that this all could have been avoided if she had married her brother. Mary then tells everyone that if Edmund's brother died, he would be the heir to the money. After hearing Mary talk about her brother dying, he realises that he cannot be with her. He tells Mary that the thought of him being with someone who has the idea of anticipating his brother's death disgusts him. With saying that, Mary leaves the room. At the end of the movie, Edmund declares his love for Fanny with the pair locking lips. Fanny mentions that her sister Susie had joined them at the Bertram household whilst the Crawford siblings have each found themselves respectable partners. Edmund also tells Fanny that he spoke to a few people who are willing to publish her stories.