EMMA with Anya Taylor Joy is Exceptional

Jane Austen's classic EMMA set in the English countryside in the early 19th C is a beloved novel which has received numerous adaptions to the screen.  The release of the this year's EMMA starring Anya Taylor Joy is perfection.  Our heroine Emma Woodhouse (Anya Taylor Joy) at nearly 21 has had very little in her life to have vexed her.  Born into a family of wealth and doted upon by her widowed father (Bill Nighy) she's permitted to act as mistress of the estate and allotted more liberties than most unmarried women during this era.  The film is a romantic comedy of social protocols, hierarchies, snobbery and marital imperatives.  Despite Emma's privileges she is a kindhearted, well intentioned young lady whose favorite pastime comes from manipulating the romantic attachments of others.  Even Emma with her seemingly benevolent behaviors does overstep proprietary boundaries for which she is smartly admonished by Mr. Knightly (Johnny Flynn).  This sumptuous production is a joyful venture into the quotidian lifestyle of polite, arid conversation over tea and the excitement & glamor of balls with their formalities.  The sumptuous cinematography captures the profound beauty in the seasonal landscapes, evenings by candlelight and days awash in sunlight.  The costuming and hairstyles are exquisite.  The film captures more than the fine frippery of dressing & polite conversation.  The mesmerizing performances of Emma and Mr. Knightly bestow a heartfelt empathy & keen perception of ethos despite living flagrantly excessive lifestyles.  Their fledgling romantic undercurrents appear visceral watching them while elegantly dancing together.   The entire ensemble is superb.  Ironically, Austen did not expect Emma to be a likable heroine being so self-indulgent.  Nonetheless, Emma is a very beguiling character, strong willed yet sensible and kind.  It's impossible not to be drawn in by her many charming qualities.  Em MA - "MA" the letters of the alphabet that define perfection.  EMMA is a totally enchanting & flawless film directed by Autumn de Wilde with phenomenal performances from Anya Taylor Joy and Johnny Flynn