Emma--Austen’s satire heightened

Monday, March 8, 2021 - 01:00

Print Edition  Entertainment

Channa Bandara WIJEKOON

satire   n./ˈsætaɪə(r)/  讽刺；讥讽；讽刺作品 • political/social satire 政治╱社会讽刺作品

“Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever and rich had lived nearly twenty one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her.”

Vex  v. /veks/ ( old-fashioned ) [ VN ] ( formal ) 使恼火；使烦恼；使忧虑

Emma Woodhouse lives with her father in their estate and enjoys a plush lifestyle. The wealthy spinster who is an amateur matchmaker and also an artist thinks she is clever and smart but has little interest in matchmaking for herself. She succeeds and fails in getting people in wedlock.

plush /plʌʃ/  舒适的；豪华的 •a plush hotel 豪华的旅馆；名词：（丝或棉的）长毛绒

Spinster  n. /ˈspɪnstə(r)/ (old-fashioned often disapproving ) 老处女；老姑娘。 如今，不可用这个单词泛指未婚女子。

amateur /ˈæmətə(r)/  /‑tʃə(r)/ 1.业余爱好者；业余运动员；2.(usually disapproving) 生手；外行 •This work was done by a bunch of amateurs! 这项工作是一帮外行干的！

Wedlock  n. /ˈwedlɒk/  (old-fashioned ) ( law 律 ) 婚姻；已婚状态 • children born in/out of wedlock (= whose parents are/are not married) 婚生╱非婚生子女

‘Emma’ which happens to be the latest screen adaptation of Jane Austen’s 1815 classic and her last novel has become a cinematic masterpiece in the hands of the director Autumn de Wilde.

Wilde with her feature directorial debut has proven she is a perfectionist. She has grasped the finer-points in Austen’s witty storytelling style to present her own cinematic version of the story. The restricted nature of women’s presence in the particular era depicted by Austen in her novel is projected in a thought provoking manner in the cinema. Anya Taylor-Joy as Emma perfectly blends with the character with her performance.

Witty  adj. /ˈwɪti/  言辞诙谐的；巧妙的；妙趣横生的；机智的 • a witty speaker 幽默的演讲人

Depict  v. /dɪˈpɪkt/  1.描绘；描画 •a painting depicting the Virgin and Child 一幅描绘童贞马利亚和圣子耶稣的画；2.描写；描述；刻画 •The novel depicts French society in the 1930s. 这部小说描述了20世纪30年代的法国社会。

provoke  v./prəˈvəʊk/  1.激起；引起；引发 •The announcement provoked a storm of protest. 这个声明激起了抗议的风潮。2.~ sb (into sth/into doing sth)  挑衅；激怒；刺激 •Be careful what you say—he's easily provoked. 说话要小心，他这个人一惹就火儿。

blend /blend/  

1.~ A with B~ A and B (together) 使混合；掺和 •Blend together the eggs, sugar and flour. 把鸡蛋、糖和面粉掺到一起。

2.~ (with sth)~ (together) to form a mixture with sth （和某物）混合；融合 •Oil does not blend with water. 油不融于水。

3.~ (with sth)~ (together) （使）调和，协调，融合 •The old and new buildings blend together perfectly. 新旧建筑物相映成趣。

4.调制；配制 •blended whisky/tea 调配的威士忌；混合茶叶

Gorgeous production design and exquisite backdrops and attires would attract even audiences who do not enjoy this genre of films to great extent and keep them emotionally acquainted with the era of 1815.

Backdrop  n./ˈbækdrɒp/ 1.（舞台的）背景幕布；2.（事件发生时）周围陪衬景物；3.（事态或活动的）背景

attire  n. /əˈtaɪə(r)/ 服装；衣服 • dressed in formal evening attire 穿着晚礼服

genre  n. /ˈʒɒ̃rə/  /ˈʒɒnrə/ （文学、艺术、电影或音乐的）体裁，类型

acquainted  adj./əˈkweɪntɪd/  

1.~ with sth ( formal )熟悉；了解•The students are already acquainted with the work of Shakespeare. 这些学生已经读过莎士比亚的著作。

2.~ (with sb) （与某人）相识，熟悉•I am well acquainted with her family. 我和她家里的人很熟。

Etiquettesof that era is projected with a humorous background. Director Wilde subtly and hilariously highlights the elements of irrational rules of the era to craft her story with depth. The sexual tension prevailed is projected in a different manner unlike in the film ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’.

etiquette  n. /ˈetɪket/  /‑kət/（社会或行业中的）礼节，礼仪，规矩 • advice on etiquette 在礼节方面的忠告；• medical/legal/professional etiquette 医学界的╱法律界的╱行业规矩

subtly /ˈsʌtəli/ adv. 精细地；巧妙地；敏锐地

prevail  v. /prɪˈveɪl/  

1.~ (in/among sth) 普遍存在；盛行；流行•Those beliefs still prevail among certain social groups. 这些信念在某些社会群体中仍很盛行。

2.~ (against/over sth) ( formal ) ( 思想、观点等 ) 被接受；战胜；压倒 •Justice will prevail over tyranny. 正义必将战胜暴虐。

3.~ (against/over sb) ( formal ) （尤指长时间斗争后）战胜，挫败

4.PREˈVAIL ON/UPON SB TO DO STH劝说 •I'm sure he could be prevailed upon to give a talk. 我相信能说服他来做一次报告。

Emma wants to put her best friend Harriet Smith (Mia Goth) who is an orphan in matrimony but wants to decide by herself what is best for Harriet. Mr Knightley who knew Emma from the childhood is regarded only as a friend by Emma although he sees Emma’s follies and tries to correct them. As the seasons of a year progress, Knightley and Emma gradually curb their differences and build a better relationship.

Matrimony  n. /ˈmætrɪməni/ ( formal ) ( technical 术语 )婚配• holy matrimony 婚配圣事

Incidents taking place in the seasons of a particular year is the unique selling proposition of Wilde’s presentation style for this cinema and it would catch viewers’ attention. The tight butts of Knightley and Emma being shown in two different scenes are comical but suggestive and it cannot be a coincidence.

Harriet tells Emma of Knightley’s humane qualities and Emma gradually starts seeing them by herself. Mr Knightley following the carriage Emma travels in on foot after a ballroom is a touching scene and the music that blends with a sad note with this scene is profound. The final scenes depicting Knightley proposing to Emma brings this cinema to a climax. Emotion involved here and Emma bleeding from a nostril on realizing Knightley and Harriet are not lovers and due to excitement is shown in the most cinematic manner. The man’s great innocence (Emma’s father Mr Woodhouse pronounces it as inner-sense) is thus proved.

humane  adj. /hjuːˈmeɪn/ 善良的；仁慈的；人道的

ballroom  n. /ˈbɔːlruːm/  /‑rʊm/ 舞厅

climax /ˈklaɪmæks/  1.（重要事情或时刻的）高潮，极点，顶点 •to come to/reach a climax 达到极点；2.（戏剧、音乐等通常接近结束时出现的）高潮

nostril  n. /ˈnɒstrəl/鼻孔

Mia Goth as Harriet Smith portrays her character brilliantly and so does Bill Nighy (Mr Woodhouse). Miranda Hart as Miss Bates too brings forth a wonderful performance. Mr Knightley (Johnny Flynn) is the perfect romantic lover in this cinema. The screenplay by Eleanor Catton is done to suit the low pace prevailed in the lives of people in that particular era.

Casting, technical aspects and direction do perfect justice and more to this screen adaptation of Jane Austen’s story.

译文

“Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever and rich had lived nearly twenty one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her.”

爱玛·伍德豪斯，美丽大方、聪明伶俐并且生活富裕，在其21年的生活中几乎没有任何烦恼和忧心的事情。

Emma Woodhouse lives with her father in their estate and enjoys a plush lifestyle. The wealthy spinster who is an amateur matchmaker and also an artist thinks she is clever and smart but has little interest in matchmaking for herself. She succeeds and fails in getting people in wedlock.

爱玛与父亲生活在自己的庄园中，过着舒适的生活。这位富有的老姑娘既是业余媒人又是艺术家，自以为聪明伶俐，却对为自己做媒没什么兴趣。在撮合人结婚方面，她既成功又失败。

‘Emma’ which happens to be the latest screen adaptation of Jane Austen’s 1815 classic and her last novel has become a cinematic masterpiece in the hands of the director Autumn de Wilde.

《爱玛》是目前简·奥斯汀1815年同名经典小说改编最新荧幕作品，也是她最后一部小说，是导演秋·德·王尔德执导的荧幕杰作。

Wilde with her feature directorial debut has proven she is a perfectionist. She has grasped the finer-points in Austen’s witty storytelling style to present her own cinematic version of the story. The restricted nature of women’s presence in the particular era depicted by Austen in her novel is projected in a thought provoking manner in the cinema. Anya Taylor-Joy as Emma perfectly blends with the character with her performance.

王尔德风格独具的导演处女作证明了她是一个完美主义者。她抓住了奥斯汀诙谐的叙事风格中的精妙之处，将这个故事呈现为她自己的电影版本。奥斯汀小说中所描绘的女性在特定时代存在的局限性在电影中以一种发人深省的方式投射出来。安雅·泰勒·乔伊饰演艾玛，她的表演与角色完美融合。

Gorgeous production design and exquisite backdrops and attires would attract even audiences who do not enjoy this genre of films to great extent and keep them emotionally acquainted with the era of 1815.

华丽的制作设计，精美的舞台背景和服装也能在很大程度上吸引不喜欢这类电影的观众，让他们在情感上熟悉1815年的时代。

Etiquettes of that era is projected with a humorous background. Director Wilde subtly and hilariously highlights the elements of irrational rules of the era to craft her story with depth. The sexual tension prevailed is projected in a different manner unlike in the film ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’.

那个时代的礼仪以幽默的背景来投射。导演王尔德巧妙而滑稽地突出了那个时代非理性规则的元素，使她的故事更有深度。与电影《查泰莱夫人的情人》不同的是，两性之间的张力以一种不同的方式表现出来。

Emma wants to put her best friend Harriet Smith (Mia Goth) who is an orphan in matrimony but wants to decide by herself what is best for Harriet. Mr Knightley who knew Emma from the childhood is regarded only as a friend by Emma although he sees Emma’s follies and tries to correct them. As the seasons of a year progress, Knightley and Emma gradually curb their differences and build a better relationship.

艾玛想让她最好的朋友哈里特·史密斯(米娅·哥特饰)结婚，哈里特是一个孤儿，但艾玛想自己决定谁对哈里特最好。被艾玛当做朋友的竹马奈特利先生，看到了艾玛的丑行并试图纠正爱玛。经过一年四季变换，奈特莉和艾玛逐渐克服各自差异，建立了更好的关系。

Incidents taking place in the seasons of a particular year is the unique selling proposition of Wilde’s presentation style for this cinema and it would catch viewers’ attention. The tight butts of Knightley and Emma being shown in two different scenes are comical but suggestive and it cannot be a coincidence.

故事以一个特别年份发生的事件切入，是王尔德大荧幕展示风格的独特卖点。它将抓住观众的注意力。奈特莉和艾玛的翘臀在两个不同的场景中出现，既滑稽又暗示性，这绝不是巧合。

Harriet tells Emma of Knightley’s humane qualities and Emma gradually starts seeing them by herself. Mr Knightley following the carriage Emma travels in on foot after a ballroom is a touching scene and the music that blends with a sad note with this scene is profound. The final scenes depicting Knightley proposing to Emma brings this cinema to a climax. Emotion involved here and Emma bleeding from a nostril on realizing Knightley and Harriet are not lovers and due to excitement is shown in the most cinematic manner. The man’s great innocence (Emma’s father Mr Woodhouse pronounces it as inner-sense) is thus proved.

哈丽特向爱玛讲述了奈特莉的人情味，爱玛渐渐开始自己发现这些品质。舞会后，奈特利先生跟着爱玛的马车步行着，该幕伴随着悲伤的音符让人印象深刻。最后一幕奈特莉向艾玛求婚的场景将这部电影推向高潮。爱玛在意识到奈特莉和哈丽特不是情侣后，激动得鼻孔都流了血，这是经典的电影方式。这证明了这个男人的清白(艾玛的父亲伍德豪斯先生称这是发自内心的)。

Mia Goth as Harriet Smith portrays her character brilliantly and so does Bill Nighy (Mr Woodhouse). Miranda Hart as Miss Bates too brings forth a wonderful performance. Mr Knightley (Johnny Flynn) is the perfect romantic lover in this cinema. The screenplay by Eleanor Catton is done to suit the low pace prevailed in the lives of people in that particular era.

Casting, technical aspects and direction do perfect justice and more to this screen adaptation of Jane Austen’s story.

米娅·哥特饰演的哈里特·史密斯出色地演绎了她的角色，比尔·奈伊(伍德豪斯先生饰)也是如此。米兰达·哈特饰演的贝茨小姐也带来了第四个精彩表演。奈特利先生(约翰尼·弗林饰)是这部电影中完美、浪漫的爱人。埃莉诺·卡顿(Eleanor Catton)的剧本改编非常适合那个特定时代人们生活中普遍存在的慢节奏。

这部电影改编自简·奥斯汀的小说，演员阵容、技术和导演都堪称完美。

原文链接：http://www.dailynews.lk/2021/03/08/entertainment/243333/austen%E2%80%99s-satire-heightened