Watch Pride & Prejudice: Atlanta

Pride & Prejudice: Atlanta is a modern reimagining of Jane Austen’s classic novel, set in present-day Atlanta. Directed by Rhonda Baraka and released in 2019, the film revolves around the tangled love lives of four professional and independent women in the city. Elizabeth Bennet (Tiffany Hines) is a yoga studio owner who has no time for love. Driven, confident and fiercely independent, she plans to live her life according to her own terms. As the movie progresses, Elizabeth’s firm beliefs are shaken when she meets Will Darcy (Juan Antonio), an arrogant and wealthy real estate mogul. Their initial interaction is not a pleasant one, and as a result, Elizabeth’s prejudice against Will deepens.

Meanwhile, the other female characters in the movie also experience their own romantic trials. Jane Williams (Raney Branch), a successful event planner, falls for the charming Charles Bingley (Reginald VelJohnson), but their budding romance is threatened by the financial concerns of Charles’s sister Caroline (Kirsten Baker). Charlotte Lucas (Victoria Rowell), Elizabeth’s best friend, is a divorce attorney who is determined to find love for herself, but struggles to balance her personal and professional lives. And then there’s Catherine de Bourgh (Jackée Harry), a successful Broadway producer who has everything she wants except for her ex-husband (Gregory Alan Williams), who she is still in love with.

As the plot unfolds, the women navigate their way through their own personal problems, while Elizabeth and Will’s attraction to each other grows. However, their own pride and prejudice threaten their chance at love. Elizabeth, who has always been in charge of her own life, resents Will’s attempts to control her, while Will is initially put off by Elizabeth’s independent spirit. But as they get to know each other better, they realize that their initial perceptions of each other were misguided.

Pride & Prejudice: Atlanta is not just a modernized love story, but also touches on issues of race, class, and gender. In a refreshing twist, the movie features a predominantly black cast, and Baraka takes advantage of the opportunity to delve deeper into these themes. She changes elements of the original novel to better reflect modern concerns, addressing topics such as police brutality, income inequality, and social media. The result is a fresh and thought-provoking take on the classic story.

The movie’s pacing is well-crafted, with the plot moving at a steady pace that keeps the viewers engaged. The cinematography is also impressive, with the city of Atlanta acting as a beautiful backdrop to the story. The chemistry between the actors is palpable, especially between Hines and Antonio, who portray their characters’ complex relationship with a delicate balance of emotion and nuance. Meanwhile, the rest of the cast, including Rowell and Harry, provide strong performances that add depth to the movie.

One potential weakness of the film is that it occasionally relies on clichés, particularly when it comes to the portrayal of the male characters. Will Darcy, while eventually revealed to be a more complex character than initially assumed, begins the story as a stereotypical wealthy businessman who is used to getting his way. Charles Bingley, on the other hand, is more two-dimensional, providing comic relief and serving primarily as a love interest for Jane Williams. However, these shortcomings are balanced by the strengths of the film, including its overall message of empowerment and the nuanced representation of female relationships.

Overall, Pride & Prejudice: Atlanta is a delightful and engaging movie that adds a fresh and modern twist to a classic story. Its exploration of themes like race, class, and gender provides a meaningful context for the romance at the center of the plot, and the performances by the predominantly black cast are compelling. Whether you’re a Jane Austen enthusiast or a lover of romantic comedies, this film is well worth a watch.

Pride & Prejudice: Atlanta is a 2019 drama. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.0.