Actress Keira Knightley stars in the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
STILL GOT IT AFTER ALL THESE YEARS
There is much talk about the “hegemony” of the American film business, and how it is driving everyone else out of business – American “cultural imperialism,” and the like. The French, for example, actually have laws limiting the amount of American TV footage that can be played per week. As if without the clumsy power of the state, there would be no French programming left. How sad! A quota system! When the situation has gotten to that point, there can be little hope.
But I watched “Pride and Prejudice” the other night, and it was an entirely Brit run operation. It was such a well done job that any idea that the English are out of the game is clearly not true.
Any country that can produce such a work of art is clearly alive and culturally vibrant, with a beating heart and a soul worth preserving.
One Comment
lokutus prime
Dear Mr Geib,
Your comment apropos the French ‘attitude’ is interesting but implies a criticism that may not be entirely justified (re. “As if without the clumsy power of the State, there would be no French programming left.”)
If all the world spoke french, and by this I mean if the french language was in a ‘primacy’ position – and english language was not, the situation would be different but, ironically, the same, in that ‘American opinion’ would be lamenting the “threat” of French language gaining influence at the expense of English language. But things are what they are and French government & academe wrings its hands and tries, in ways and means that are unrealistic and unworkable, to stem the tide – the advance if you will – of the things that you mention.
As to your observations re ” It was such a well done job that any idea that the English are out of the game is clearly not true. ” ?
… the English have never been ‘out of the game’, so to say, but they have often lacked the domestic (UK) financial investment that would enable productions to always up their with the best.
There is no doubt in my mind that the Brits are very good at what they do in this field of production and your final conclusion that …”Any country that can produce such a work of art is clearly alive and culturally vibrant, with a beating heart and a soul worth preserving.” is apt and not an overstatement.
Best wishes,
lokutus prime
(writer & poet)