“Emma” is a period romantic comedy from 2020 directed by Autumn De Wilde, featuring Anya Taylor-Joy as the titular character. 

This modern adaptation of the 1815 Jane Austen novel of the same name follows a dynamic between characters regarding gender norms and social class. It also features a light-hearted springtime setting and stunning costume design. 

Although the film was released just before the COVID-19 pandemic, Emma made its mark with numerous nominations and awards.

The film was nominated for Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling at the Academy Awards and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress at the 78th Golden Globes.

Set against the backdrop of 1800s Regency England, Taylor-Joy succeeds in showing the perfection of Emma as a high-society elitist. She entertains herself as she meddles in the affairs of her friends, mainly a young woman, Harriet Smith, played by Mia Goth.

Matchmaking is an amusing pastime to Emma, and she doesn’t consider the consequences until they involve her own personal feelings toward her close friend Mr. Knightly, portrayed by Johnny Flynn.

One of the most addicting qualities of period dramas is the heightened tension between characters, whether they are romantically attracted to each other or the worst of enemies. When characters are forced to restrain themselves from outward displays of emotion that are deemed improper for the time period, it creates palpable anticipation for the audience. 

In this particular case, the sexual tension of the film manifests in the lingering gazes and slow burn  friends to lovers trope of Emma and Mr. Knightly. 

The chemistry Taylor-Joy and Flynn bring to the characters succeed in accomplishing this intense dynamic between them, building the passion as their relationship develops throughout the film. It portrays a classic example of the will-they-won’t-they trope.

Viewers who have read and enjoyed the novel will find the film relatively faithful to the original story, with some creative liberties being taken. One such liberty is the scene where Mr. Knightly declares his love to Emma. 

Until this moment, Emma is shown as the pinnacle of a proper young woman; the proposal of Mr. Knightly completely catches this perfected persona off guard. His proposal causes Emma to inadvertently have a nose bleed, demonstrating her true feelings and imperfections to the world as she flusters in rejecting him until her relationship with Harriet is made right. 

Although this reaction is not included in the book, De Wilde added this detail on account of her own persistence of nosebleeds. 

In an interview with Radio Times, De Wilde explained how she wanted to humanize Emma by showing this panicked break in her demeanor, connecting to the audience as well as Mr. Knightly.

De Wilde excels in highlighting the development of Emma as a character, from a shallow, selfish busybody to giving her friends and herself the happy ending they deserve.

The characters of Emma overcome the standards society has set upon them, defying class and challenging their perspectives of what love means to them. 

This film encapsulates the theme of “love conquers all” and has stood the test of time to be loved by modern audiences today.

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