Documentarily
The “big work” is done, but we’re still in cleanup mode from our big move, so posting will remain spotty for a bit. However, we wanted to pass along an interesting subject from a Gentle Reader, Natalie, who asked about a Jane Austen film she saw at Amazon. Not an adaptation, but a documentary about Jane Austen’s life and work. We realized it was a repackaged version of something Natalie had already seen, and was frustrated as she is looking for “something I would look forward to sharing and lending out to friends and converts.”
Natalie suggested we turn over the question to the Gentle Readers of AustenBlog. Does such a film about Jane Austen’s life and work exist? And the first smartypants who says “Becoming Jane” gets a Cluebat up the nose. 
P.S. We have received other items of interest that we haven’t had a chance to post yet–thanks for sending them, and we will get to them when we can! In the meantime, enjoy the discussion.
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How about 2002′s “The Real Jane Austen,” narrated by Anna Chancellor? IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0350038
Don’t remember when I saw it and how good it was, but I was impressed at the time. Should dig out the videotape one of these days and watch it again. (I’m a compulsive recorder of TV shows and movies, especially when they pertain to Jane Austen…)
Saw “The Real Jane Austen” and thought it was okay. Maybe I need to watch it again. Natalie should visit JASNA’s film pages to see what’s available for rental or purchase.
http://www.jasna.org/film/o.html
I really liked Miss Austen Regrets, and think it’s probably a pretty good representation of Jane and her personality. It was also very engaging to watch. But it only covers the last few years of her life, and there were a couple things in there that definitely weren’t accurate. ‘The Real Jane Austen’, on the other hand, covers her life from beginning to end in a style that’s almost a documentary, with members of her ‘family’ reminiscing about her (info taken from what’s known about her and letters) interspersed with reenacted scenes from her life. I thought it was quite good. It’s not that long – about an hour. and you can watch it in 6 different 8-10 minute episodes on You Tube.
I couldn’t find it on VHS or DVD, but the entire program is available on YouTube in 8 parts. Here’s the first part:
Come to think of it, did A&E Biography ever do an episode on her? I don’t recall seeing one, but I know they’ve done some on the classic authors, such as Oscar Wilde.
My sister and me were given Jane Austen Life and Works for birthday (we are just a few weeks’ difference). They are 2 documentaries, and there was a third called ‘Society’. Maybe this helps.
Some years ago Canal 22 (a Mexican public channel) broadcasted a documentary on Jane Austen, but I cannot recall its name, I thought I had taped it but now I cannot find it and I’ve been searching at the JAcastellano archives because I think I mentioned over there but there are no results either
. IMO it was very good and I do remember that Elizabeth Jenkins was interviewed in it.
Jane Austen Life, Works and Society, 3 DVDs
I liked them…
Netflix has them in case you dont want to buy them
“Miss Austen Regrets” is another film about her life. It’s bitter and harsh, but it’s true. It’s about the last chapter of her life.
It should be added that Natalie and I discussed “Life, Society, Works” in our original e-mail exchange and it was not what she was looking for.
Cinthia, you made a copy of “The Real Jane Austen” for me (with Spanish subtitles!)–is that the film you were thinking of? I have to dig that out (literally, as 90 percent of my stuff is still in boxes) and watch it again.
Biography did do one on Jane Austen. It’s not bad but I don’t know if it’s the conversion experience Natalie is looking for. Wasn’t it included in the extras of a recent film? It might even have been Becoming Jane. (“That’s a Cluebat up the nose, Kevin!”)
Oooh–just rescued Silent Doug’s comment. In the absence of DVD or VHS (say it with me) piracy is our only option.
Gah. I don’t have time to watch this. I will only add: I have a completely unsupported theory that Anna Chancellor takes after Aunt Jane. In other words, Jane looked a lot like she does. High cheekbones, dark hair, tall and slender.
Cate’s right, there was a biography made of her a few years ago, I saw it on the Bio channel last year. It was informative, but I don’t feel it really dug into her personality very much, and there was alot of focus on moderna adaptations and obsessions about Jane Austen as well instead of stirctly being about her life.
I loved Miss Austen Regrets and am actually using it in my English class, it’s pretty accurate and it’s not dry. It gives a great sense of her personality.
A&E did do a biography about her. I’ve seen it for sale, but it’s sort of pricey. I’d love to know what DVD it might have been included as a bonus. I’m sure I’d have it then.
I love Miss Austen Regrets, but it’s not a documentary. It’s a bio-flick and, just like Becoming Jane, makes a lot of assumptions about her life and personality, not all of which can be supported by facts. (Still, I find those assumptions much more intriguing than Becoming Jane.) A documentary (or at least the type I’m looking for) is intended to be informative.
I have seen The Real Jane Austen on Youtube and that, by far, has been the best documentary I have seen about Jane Austen. Unfortunately, it’s not on DVD and sending people to Youtube is awkward. (Plus, I’m materialistic; I’d like to own it.) I had a few quibbles about some of the information and the reenactments are somewhat awkward, but, by far, I’ve found it to be the best blend of information and entertainment, without sacrificing one for the other. I’d love to own a (ahem) copy of it.
As far as legit ownership of DVDs, am I looking at The Jane Austen Trilogy (Life, Works and Society) as my best bet? That helps somewhat!
Yes, Biography made a documentary! I think I taped it when it was broadcasted but I have not seen it yet. I will look for it
, it is not good, though.
What about *Austen Country*.
That’s about life and times of Jane Austen. I like it a lot, it’s a documentary, and I bought it at Amazon.uk
Then there is ;
*Jane Austen’s life* (no works or society attached to the name)
the link at amazon.co.uk
It seems the *Austen Country* is now called *Jane Austen Country* – or is it a different documentary (I wouldn’t know).
No, Mags, I was not speaking of The Real JA, that had been already mentioned and I do keep my taped copy at hand, Elizabeth Jenkins did not appear in The Real JA. The one I mean is another one, entirely documentary, there are no actors representing characters. It was also produced by BBC some years before the production of The Real JA, but as I say, I cannot even recall its name or more information about it, and I cannot find my tape
. It is a sad business.
And it is not either the documentary narrated by Donald Sutherland no less, years before P&P3 was even an idea, and which at least here in Mexico was presented in a show called Great Books, and it is only about P&P.
PS – Mari Carmen is right, Biography produced a show about JA around the time that B&P was released in cinemas, and it was included in the region 1 DVD of that film. Unfortunately, as Mari Carmen also mentions, it is not good enough.
Yes, I have to see it completley, I just saw a part and the rest in fast forward…I am such a bad janeite XD
P&P95 has a making of the series which talked about Austen too. P&P05 has a documentary, as the new edition of S&S in Spain and I think, Nederlands. I will check the DVD’s I own…
I found a website called, http://www.janeaustenfilm.com that’s for a new film called “Crazy About Jane”, I haven’t seen it, but there is a list of what the movie features, some of it may be useful to you.
Mags do let us know when you find this elusive documentary. My curiosity is aroused.
Yes, Biography made a documentary! I think I taped it when it was broadcasted but I have not seen it yet. I will look for it
, it is not good, though.