02.21.07
Thoughts on Mansfield Park
Mary-Carolyn here with a few thoughts on the BBC mini-series Mansfield Park, but alas, there were few things I noticed the article I read hadn’t already pointed out (I suppose that’s what you get for reading a critical article before watching the film). However, I did notice a few interesting things. I was surprised by the use of an unstable camera in the carriage as Fanny comes with Mrs. Norris to Mansfield. I’ve noticed its fairly uncharacteristic of BBC adaptations to do anything but have a still, panning camera; but, I think this choice is wonderful as it gives the viewer the sense early on in the program that Fanny’s life at Mansfield will be anything but stable and encouraging. I also found that the film rather downplayed Julia’s indiscretions, focusing much more on Maria. For example, in following Maria and Julia in a carriage ride where they discuss Mr. Crawford, Maria is placed in much greater darkness than Julia. Likewise, when the family goes to visit Mr. Rushworth’s, Julia has greater difficulty getting through the gate, implying that she has greater difficulty abandoning her duty and morals than Julia. During one scene I wished I had a better knowledge of statues and mythology (and knew how to take screen caps!) as Julia is standing by the fireplace, which is flanked by two stone figures, and stands in the exact shape of the figure she is in front of. While she is in the background, she is in the middle of the screen and in full focus. But I don’t know who the figure is and if it has any bearing on the film’s plot.