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Emma (2020 film)

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Emma.
A blonde woman wearing a long yellow coat, against a countryside background
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAutumn de Wilde
Screenplay byEleanor Catton
Based onEmma
by Jane Austen
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyChristopher Blauvelt
Edited byNick Emerson
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 14 February 2020 (2020-02-14) (United Kingdom)
  • 21 February 2020 (2020-02-21) (United States)
Running time
124 minutes
Countries
  • United Kingdom[1]
  • United States[1]
LanguageEnglish
Budget$10 million[2]
Box office$27.4 million[3][4]

Emma (stylized as Emma.) is a 2020 period romantic comedy film directed by Autumn de Wilde, from a screenplay by Eleanor Catton, based on Jane Austen's 1815 novel of the same name. It stars Anya Taylor-Joy as Miss Emma Woodhouse, a wealthy and elegant young woman living with her father in Regency-era England who amuses herself with matchmaking and meddles in the romantic lives of those closest to her. The film also stars Johnny Flynn, Josh O'Connor, Callum Turner, Mia Goth, Miranda Hart, and Bill Nighy.

Produced by Perfect World Pictures, Working Title Films and Blueprint Pictures, a film adaptation of Austen's novel by Focus Features began development in October 2018 when Taylor-Joy was cast in the title role, with de Wilde attached as the director. The remainder of the supporting roles were cast by March 2019. Principal photography took place between March and June 2019 across England.

Emma was released in the United Kingdom on 14 February 2020, and in the United States on 21 February 2020 by Universal Pictures. It received generally favourable reviews, with the performances and production design singled out for praise. It grossed $27 million worldwide against its budget of $10 million. The film received two Academy Award nominations for Best Costume Design and Best Makeup and Hairstyling at the 93rd Academy Awards, as well as a Best Costume Design nomination at the 74th British Academy Film Awards, three nominations at the 26th Critics' Choice Awards, and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical nomination (for Taylor-Joy) at the 78th Golden Globe Awards.

Plot

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In Regency-era England, the wealthy and beautiful twenty one year old Emma Woodhouse lives with her father at his Hartfield estate in the Surrey town of Highbury, and is often visited by Mr Knightley, a local landowner who is the brother of her sister, Isabella's, husband.

Emma searches for a new companion after her old governess, Miss Taylor, gets married. She settles on Harriet Smith, a younger girl who Emma supposes is the unclaimed child of a gentleman; Harriet's parents are unknown, but her education has been provided for.

Harriet tells Emma that Mr. Robert Martin, a tenant farmer of Mr. Knightley, has proposed marriage to her. Though claiming she will not interfere, Emma implies her disapproval so Harriet would refuse. Emma believes that Mr. Elton, the local vicar, is in love with Harriet and encourages her to transfer her hopes to him, despite Mr. Knightley's warning that she should not involve herself in the situation.

At Christmas time, Isabella and her husband come to visit with their children. After everyone leaves dinner with the Westons early, Emma finds herself alone in a carriage with Mr. Elton, who then proposes marriage to her solely for her wealth. Emma refuses him, and Mr. Elton furiously disappears for six weeks, eventually returning with a wealthy but pretentious wife, Augusta, who continually attempts to usurp Emma's position as the village queen bee. Two much-talked-about relations of Highbury residents appear: Jane Fairfax, the niece of Miss Bates, and Frank Churchill, Mr. Weston's son from his first marriage. Emma grows envious of Jane's accomplishments, but is attracted by Frank.

Frank's arrival prompts the Westons to hold a ball, where Mr. Elton embarrasses Harriet by pointedly refusing to dance with her. She is rescued by Mr. Knightley, who asks her to dance. Emma and Mr. Knightley also dance together, awakening romantic feelings between them.

Though Emma leaves before Mr. Knightley can speak to her, he runs to her home only for their meeting to be interrupted by Frank, who has rescued Harriet after she is set upon by traveller children. Harriet tells Emma that she has fallen in love again, leading Emma to believe Harriet is in love with Frank. Emma again vows not to interfere, but manipulates circumstances so that Harriet and Frank may spend more time together.

Emma tries to spend more time with Mr. Knightley and is surprised when he repeatedly ignores her. On a picnic with their social acquaintances at Box Hill, Frank urges them to play a game to amuse Emma, who unthinkingly insults Miss Bates, leading the party to disband. Mr. Knightley rebukes Emma for her behaviour, and a humiliated Emma apologizes to Miss Bates, who accepts her apology without question.

Frank Churchill's wealthy aunt dies, so he is no longer required to be at her beck and call. The Westons reveal he was secretly engaged to Jane Fairfax and waiting for his aunt, who opposed the match, to die. The Westons had thought Emma was enamored with Frank, but she is only distressed on account of Harriet's supposed hopes. Emma breaks the news to Harriet, who reveals that she is in love with Mr. Knightley and, because of his actions, believes he is in love with her too. Harriet realizes that Emma herself is in love with Mr. Knightley. Emma vows not to interfere this time with Harriet’s affections.

Mr. Knightley happens upon Emma out walking to clear her head. He loves Emma yet she thinks he loves Harriet and, with neither stating their perceptions, their conversation is ripe with confusion. When he finally reveals that she is who he loves, and asks if there is any chance she would marry him, Emma develops a nosebleed from her bafflement turned euphoria. Yet she is committed to Harriet’s happiness, so will not accept his proposal, until Harriet is betrothed to whom she has loved all along.

Emma goes to Mr. Martin to make amends, offering him a portrait of Harriet she drew herself. Harriet tells Emma that she has accepted Mr. Martin's renewed offer of marriage, and that her father has revealed his identity now that she is of age; he is not a gentleman, but a tradesman who makes galoshes. Emma congratulates Harriet and invites her to bring her father to Emma's home once he comes to Highbury.

Though Emma and Mr. Knightley are very much in love, Emma is distressed at the thought of leaving her father alone. To accommodate her wishes, Mr. Knightley suggests that he join them at Hartfield rather than have Emma quit her father's home. She happily agrees, and they are married.

Cast

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Production

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Casting

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In October 2018, Anya Taylor-Joy was cast in the lead role, and Autumn de Wilde was signed for her directorial debut.[5] In December 2018, Johnny Flynn joined the cast.[6]

In March 2019, Bill Nighy, Mia Goth, Josh O'Connor, Callum Turner, Miranda Hart, Rupert Graves, Gemma Whelan, Amber Anderson and Tanya Reynolds joined the cast,[7] and Alexandra Byrne signed as costume designer.[8]

Filming

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Principal photography began on 18 March 2019, was scheduled to conclude on 24 May, but eventually wrapped on 6 June 2019.[9][10][11]

Firle Place in Sussex was used for the exterior of Emma's home.[12] Other locations included Lower Slaughter (exteriors) in the Cotswolds standing in for the village of Highbury, Kingston Bagpuize House in Oxfordshire, Wilton House near Salisbury in Wiltshire, and Chavenage House at Beverston, Gloucestershire.[12]

Title

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Director de Wilde decided the film's title should include a period (full stop) to signify its being a period piece.[13]

Music

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Main article: Emma (2020 soundtrack)

In the film, Jane Fairfax (played by Amber Anderson) outshines Emma by performing the third movement from Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 12 on the fortepiano. A trained pianist, Anderson had to relearn the piece to adapt her technique to the period instrument's shorter keys.[14]

The credit sequence features "Queen Bee", an original song by Johnny Flynn. Isobel Waller-Bridge asked Flynn to write a song for the film. He wrote "Queen Bee" to convey Knightley's perspective on Emma, and performed it in a style appropriate for the film's period.[15]

The soundtrack features many a cappella recordings of folk songs by artists like Maddy Prior and the Watersons. De Wilde had an immediate conception of the film's music being rooted in folk music. She also wanted the orchestral score to emulate Sergei Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf, where each character had a theme that personified them.[16]

Anya Taylor-Joy, Anderson and Flynn all sing onscreen in the film. Taylor-Joy took pains to explain that her performance of "The Last Rose of Summer" used an affected style that she imagined Emma Woodhouse would use to charm her audience.[17]

Anderson and Flynn sing a duet of 'Drink to me Only With Thine Eyes' written by Ben Jonson in the film during a ball scene.

The adagio from the final movement of Haydn's Symphony No. 45 in F sharp minor, "Farewell", is also heard in the film.[citation needed]

Release

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Theatrical

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Emma was released in the United Kingdom on 14 February 2020, coinciding with Valentine's Day, and in the United States on 21 February.[18]

Home media

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It was released digitally in March 2020 in the United States, Canada and the UK through Premium VOD on streaming platforms, due to movie theatre closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.[19] It was released on DVD and Blu-ray on 19 May.[20]

Reception

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Box office

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Emma grossed $10.1 million in the United States and Canada, and $17.3 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $27.4 million.[3][4]

In North America, it made $230,000 from five theaters in its opening weekend, for a per-venue average of $46,000, the highest of 2020 at that point.[21] It went wide two weeks later, grossing $5 million from 1,565 theaters and finishing sixth at the box office. Its time at the box office was then interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic closing theaters.[22]

In Spain, it has grossed €228,000 ($285,000).[23]

Critical response

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On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 86% based on 257 reviews, with an average of 7.3/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Other adaptations may do a better job of consistently capturing the spirit of the classic source material, but Jane Austen fans should still find a solid match in this Emma."[24] On Metacritic, the film was assigned a weighted average score of 71 out of 100, based on 48 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[25] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale, and PostTrak reported it received an average 3 out of 5 stars, with 44% of people they surveyed saying they would definitely recommend it.[23]

In a mostly favorable review written for Variety, Andrew Barker referred to the film as a "an entirely worthy companion" to other adaptations of the novel, though noted it was "hardly a definitive take".[26]

Accolades

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Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Academy Awards 25 April 2021 Best Costume Design Alexandra Byrne Nominated [27][28]
Best Makeup and Hairstyling Marese Langan, Laura Allen & Claudia Stolze Nominated
British Academy Film Awards 11 April 2021 Best Costume Design Alexandra Byrne Nominated [29]
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards December 13, 2020 Best New Filmmaker Autumn de Wilde Runner-up [30]
Chicago Film Critics Association December 21, 2020 Best Art Direction Kave Quinn and Stella Fox Nominated [31]
[32]
Best Costume Design Alexandra Byrne Won
Costume Designers Guild Awards April 13, 2021 Excellence in Period Film Nominated [33]
Critics' Choice Awards 7 March 2021 Best Costume Design Nominated [34]
Best Production Design Kave Quinn and Stella Fox Nominated
Best Makeup and Hairstyling Emma Nominated
Golden Globe Awards 28 February 2021 Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Anya Taylor-Joy Nominated [35]
Golden Trailer Awards 22 July 2021 Best Romance TV Spot "Gossip", Focus Features Won [36]
Best Voice Over TV Spot "Delicious", Focus Features Won
Hollywood Critics Association Awards 5 March 2021 Best Costume Design Alexandra Byrne Nominated [37]
Best Production Design Kave Quinn Nominated
Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Awards 2 July 2020 Best Picture Emma Nominated [38][39]
Best Actress Anya Taylor-Joy Nominated
Best Female Director Autumn de Wilde Runner-up
Best Adapted Screenplay Eleanor Catton Nominated
Satellite Awards 15 February 2021 Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical Anya Taylor-Joy Nominated [40]
Best Costume Design Alexandra Byrne Nominated
Set Decorators Society of America Awards 31 March 2021 Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a Period Feature Film Stella Fox and Kave Quinn Nominated [41]
St. Louis Film Critics Association 17 January 2021 Best Comedy Film Emma Nominated [42]
Best Production Design Kave Quinn Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b "Emma". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020.
  2. ^ Burwick, Kevin (12 May 2020). "Emma Blu-Ray Sneak Peek Goes Behind the Scenes with Anya Taylor-Joy and Mia Goth [Exclusive]". Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Emma. (2020)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Emma. - Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  5. ^ Kit, Borys (25 October 2018). "Anya Taylor-Joy to Star in Jane Austen Adaptation 'Emma' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  6. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (20 December 2018). "Johnny Flynn Joins Focus Features-Working Title's 'Emma'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  7. ^ Grater, Tom (21 March 2019). "Bill Nighy, Mia Goth, Josh O'Connor, Callum Turner board 'Emma' for Working Title, Blueprint (exclusive)". Screen International. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  8. ^ "Alexandra Byrne". Independent Talent. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  9. ^ "Production Weekly" (PDF). Production Weekly. No. 1123. 20 December 2018. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  10. ^ de Wilde, Autumn (18 March 2019). "DAY ONE of production complete". Instagram.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2019. I am thrilled to announce that I am directing Jane Austen's "Emma" starring @anyataylorjoy for @focusfeatures @workingtitlefilms & @blueprint.pictures // screenplay by eleanorcatton // photo by @anyataylorjoy // @emmafilm // "Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her." // #emma #hansomecleverandrich
  11. ^ de Wilde, Autumn (6 June 2019). "And just like that we have wrapped principle [sic] photography on my first feature film, EMMA". Instagram.com. Retrieved 3 February 2022. // @emmafilm // I can't wait to share it with you all // Photo I took in rehearsals where it all started with @anyataylorjoy as Emma and #johnnyflynn as Mr. Knightley // Thank you to Eleanor Catton for your incredible adaptation of Jane Austen's "Emma" as well as the magnificent joy of collaborating with you // Thank you to my incredible cast and crew as well as @workingtitlefilms @blueprint.pictures & @focusfeatures for all your support // #janeausten // #emmafilmbts #autumndewildebts
  12. ^ a b Medd, James (22 February 2020). "Where was 'Emma' filmed?". CN Traveller.
  13. ^ Carr, Flora (14 February 2020). "Emma. director Autumn de Wilde explains the film's unusual punctuation". Radio Times.
  14. ^ "Amber Anderson interview - how the Emma actor went from Forres to film". The Scotsman. 10 February 2020.
  15. ^ Lenker, Maureen Lee. "Johnny Flynn on writing an original song for Emma and the Emma in his life", Entertainment Weekly. 21 February 2020.
  16. ^ Schwedel, Heather. "How Working With Rock Stars Prepared Autumn de Wilde to Direct Emma", Slate. 5 March 2020.
  17. ^ Crow, David. "Anya Taylor-Joy on Last Night in Soho, Edgar Wright, and Emma’s Voice". Den of Geek. 20 February 2020.
  18. ^ "Emma". Launching Films. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  19. ^ Johnson, Save (20 March 2020). "Watch The Invisible Man, The Hunt and Emma at home starting today". CNET. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  20. ^ "What's New on DVD, Blu-ray, Digital and VOD – May 5, 2020". Tribute.ca.
  21. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (23 February 2020). "'Emma' Delivers Charming Opening, 'Impractical Jokers: The Movie' Laughs Its Way To $2M Debut – Specialty Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  22. ^ "Anya Taylor-Joy Talks ‘Emma,’ Working With Director Autumn De Wilde & More" by Jen Vineyard, The Playlist. 9 June 2020. Accessed 12 October 2022.
  23. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (8 March 2020). "'Onward' Seeing Blasé $40M Domestic Opening, $68M WW: Are Coronavirus Fears Impacting B.O.? – Sunday Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  24. ^ "EMMA. (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  25. ^ "Emma. Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  26. ^ Barker, Andrew (3 February 2020). "'Emma.': Film Review". Variety. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  27. ^ Whitten, Sarah (15 March 2021). "Netflix earns most Academy Award nominations in a year where diversity shines". CNBC.
  28. ^ @Working_Title (15 March 2021). "Such news! We're thrilled to announce that EMMA. has received two Academy Award nominations for Best Costume Design and Best Makeup & Hairstyling!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  29. ^ "Bafta Film Awards 2021: The nominations in full". BBC News. 9 March 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  30. ^ Davis, Clayton (13 December 2020). "'Nomadland' Named Best Picture at Boston Society of Film Critics Awards, Paul Raci and Yuh-jung Youn Among Winners". Variety. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  31. ^ "Chloé Zhao's Nomadland Leads Chicago Film Critics Association 2020 Award Nominations". chicagofilmcritics.org. Chicago Film Critics Association. 18 December 2020. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  32. ^ "Nomadland Leads Chicago Film Critics Association 2020 Awards". chicagofilmcritics.org. Chicago Film Critics Association. 21 December 2020. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  33. ^ "Costume Designer Guild Nominations Include 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' 'Emma,' 'Promising Young Woman' – IndieWire". 4 March 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  34. ^ Davis, Clayton (8 February 2021). "Critics Choice Awards: 'Mank' Leads With 12 Nominations, Netflix Makes History With Four Best Picture Nominees". Variety. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  35. ^ "Nominations for the 78th Golden Globe Awards (2021) Announced". www.goldenglobes.com. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  36. ^ Crist, Allison; Perez, Lexy (22 July 2021). "Golden Trailer Awards: A Quiet Place: Part II, Black Widow Among Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  37. ^ Menzel, Scott (2 February 2021). "The 4th Annual HCA Film Awards Nominations Have Been Announced". Hollywood Critics Association. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  38. ^ Menzel, Scott (29 June 2020). "The 3rd Annual Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Awards Nominations". Hollywood Critics Association.
  39. ^ "The 3rd Annual Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Awards Winners". Hollywood Critics Association. 2 July 2020.
  40. ^ Van Blaricom, Mirjana (1 February 2021). "25th Satellite Awards Nominees for Motion Pictures and Television Announced". International Press Academy. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  41. ^ Tangcay, Jazz (11 March 2021). "'Promising Young Woman' and 'News of the World' Among Inaugural Set Decorators Awards Nominations". Variety. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  42. ^ "The 2020 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
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