Pride and Prejudice

starring: JASMINE KHEEN & CONNAN AARON

Despite pressure to marry, Lizzie Bennet is set on spinsterhood - until her father’s illness forces her into the world of courtship to save her family. A chance meeting with the brooding Mr. Darcy leaves her torn between duty and the risk of falling in love.

REVIEW

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Right firstly if you come to this as an Austen purist you will have a nervous breakdown. The way to approach this vert is as a loose retelling of P&P.

And there are some really interesting ideas here, such as the suggestion that because Lizzie is of lower status Mr Darcy might sleep with her but not see her as marriage material, which is only a fleeting thought as in this story Mr D falls pretty quickly. He blows hot, cold & then very hot for most of the story. It is Lizzie who takes her time.

Cast wise this is v good.

Jasmine Kheen channels Keira K's clipped tones, Jennifer Ehle's sparkling eyes and brings her own take on Lizzie, giving her a confidence and sass.

And hooray for a positive sister relationship in a vertical with Jane played by Coco Taylor who has to cough a lot (never find out what the illness is) but positively glows around the charming Mr Bingley played by Tom Highmore.

So what about Mr Darcy? That is why we are all here. Connan Aaron smashes it out of the park. He smoulders. He glowers. He gets a lot of brilliant dialogue mixing up classic lines and new lines. And thankfully stands up to everyone at the end telling Lady C (the fabulous Meg Depla-Lake where to stick it).

Also obsessed with Claire Schuyffel.

Jacqueline Johnson & Georgie Banks do their best with poorly written characters, Anne does have a fab hint of glee in her eyes as she does evil things.

Now there are big issues with the script which I think comes from pressure from higher ups to deliver vert scenes - dresses ripped off more than 3 times, overuse of slaps and physical bullying. In my head Lizzie would have decked Anne and not stood for all that nonsense. Mr Wickham is wasted. And by making so many characters bad we lose the comedy. It's a total lack of faith in the audience. You can get views without adding these things for shock value. We have BRAINS. Trust us! Let the writer explore more interesting ideas.

The whole thing looks phenomenal + costumes, locations, music. Massive step up in vert quality.

So in conclusion. Don't go in expecting P&P. Go to watch Connan Aaron become a super⭐ and sizzle with Jasmine Kheen.

💖 Top swoonworthy moment:

We skip the pining in this P&P going straight to pretty instant chemistry here. So the story is changed, Mr Darcy is all in from pretty early on, it is Lizzie who is more reluctant. Does this matter? No because you will swoon over Mr Darcy. Which is the one of the main points - especially when he loses his temper with Mr Collins. Nice touch including a hand flex and damp white shirt.

Also Jane and Bingley are adorable, and totally light up around each other.

🦹🏼‍♂️ Top villain award:

I wish Mrs Bennett and Anne had been better written, there is a lazy and uncomfortable overuse of slaps, pushes and ripping off dresses. Lady Catherine is more effective, as her villainy is rooted more in verbal put downs, trying to control Darcy and imperious disdain.

😂 Comedy gold:

I wish there had been more, I can see why the script made Mrs Bennett & Mr Collins villains, but it meant that we lost the comedy that they usually provide.

🎺 Unsung hero:

Mrs Bambridge (Claire Schuyffel) who steals every scene she is with her facial expressions, exasperation and eye rolls. The housekeeper is my hero.

✍🏼 DETAILS

Director Dan Lowenstein | Production Onset Octopus | 2025

Available on Reelshort