Date: 08/07/06
Compare the opening sections of Bridget Jones Diary and Pride and Prejudice. How do the directors make the film accessible to a modern audience?
Bridget Jones Diary is based on Jane Austen’s most memorable love story, Pride and Prejudice. Bridget Jones was released in 2001, starring Hollywood actors such as Colin firth, Hugh Grant and Renee Zellweger as Bridget Jones.
Pride and Prejudice was released in 2005 however it is a film version of Jane Austens novel.
Both films are modern but of different styles. Pride and Predjudice was set in the late 18th century and early 19th century, where marriage, social classes and wealth were major themes during that era.
On the other hand, Bridget Jones is a modern adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. This was also reflected in the decision to cast Colin Firth as Darcy, since he played the role of Mr Darcy in the popular BBC’s series of Pride and Prejudice, again emphasising the point that Bridget Jones Diary is loosely based on Pride and Predjudice.
I will be looking at how effective each opening is and which films are accessible and appealing to a modern audience.
In both of the films, we are introduced to the character walking towards their family home.
In the opening section of Bridget Jones Diary; we are introduced to Bridget and her parents. We hear Bridget’s thoughts and emotions, which tells us about her character and her personality. Bridget attends her mothers annual new year party. We are introduced to Bridget and her old fashioned parents. Her mother tries to set Bridget up with some dull middle-aged man. This time however, she is introduced to a handsome human-rights lawyer named Mark Darcy. After this we see Bridget alone in her apartment and very drunk. During this time she decides that she will not allow herself to be alone next New Years Eve. To help her achieve this goal she makes resolutions to reduce her intake of alcohol and cigarettes, and loose twenty pounds. She also began to write in a diary, to help her take control of her life.
