Film adaptations of Jane Austen’s Emma

This thesis examines the film adaptations of Jane Austen’s novel Emma, focusing on how the themes of social class, gender, and social mobility are represented and reinterpreted on screen. After situating the novel within its historical context, I analyze both faithful period adaptations—such as Douglas McGrath’s 1996 film, the 1948 BBC version starring Judy Campbell, the 1954 NBC Kraft Television Theatre adaptation, the 1960 BBC adaptation by Tilsley, and Autumn de Wilde’s 2020 adaptation—as well as more creative, modern, and international reinterpretations, including Amy Heckerling’s Clueless (1995) and its Bollywood remake, Aisha (2010), directed by Rajshree Ojha. Through a close comparison of key scenes, including the famous Box Hill picnic and Mr. Knightley’s marriage proposal, I highlight the narrative, visual, and musical choices that enable Austen’s themes to remain relevant across very different cultural contexts. Particular attention is paid to the representation of the protagonist and supporting characters, especially with regard to female agency and the ways in which it changes according to the historical period and cultural setting of each adaptation. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach that combines adaptation theory, postcolonial criticism, and gender studies, I argue that Emma remains remarkably relevant and adaptable today. Ultimately, I suggest that a director’s decision either to remain faithful to the novel or to innovate is never neutral: such choices actively contribute to the creation of new cultural and social meanings, highlighting Jane Austen’s enduring influence on the representation of women in contemporary global cinema.