We can all agree that Pride and Prejudice is likely the first movie on the watch list of anyone who enjoys period romance movies. Frankly, it doesn’t take a genius to see why, as this movie has that ultimate enemies-to-respect-to-lovers groove that made most of us smile sheepishly at that ending scene where Darcy tells Elizabeth, “You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you.” What most people don’t know, however, is that the 2015 movie Far From The Madding Crowd is similar in many ways. The only real difference is that it flew under the radar, maybe because it didn’t get as much PR as Pride and Prejudice.
Another key difference is that instead of the ballrooms we see in Pride and Prejudice, the main setting of Far From the Madding Crowd comprises muddy fields and farmlands. But despite these setting differences mentioned, you immediately realize that this adaptation of Thomas Hardy‘s classic novel has all the same elements we see in Pride and Prejudice. From the smart, independent heroine to the slow-burn chemistry and emotional payoffs, it’s the perfect film to watch when you want to feel all those things without having to watch the same thing.
Why ‘Far from the Madding Crowd Is ‘Pride and Prejudice’ Hidden Twin
One of the first things most people notice about Far From the Madding Crowd is the almost surreal fact that Bathsheba Everdene (Carey Mulligan) and Elizabeth Bennet (Jennifer Ehle) could be — for lack of a better phrase — soul sisters. Like Elizabeth, Bathsheba knows her worth and absolutely refuses to marry for anything less than love. She has her main character moment early on when she basically friend-zones the ultimate nice guy, Gabriel Oak (Matthias Schoenaerts). That moment lets you know something important: this isn’t your usual damsel-in-distress period drama.
Everything about this movie has this grounded, earthy feel, thanks to cinematographer Charlotte Bruus Christensen, who fills the screen with light and color that make every frame look like an oil painting. These effects make this movie less about being proper and able to navigate gossip and tea parties, and more about being capable enough to survive bad harvests and manage farmhands. Essentially, it’s a film about a woman learning the hard way that being independent isn’t necessarily the same thing as never needing help.
This movie is also quite great in the way the writers make Bathsheba very relatable. In an interview with TIME magazine, Mulligan — who, by the way, did an exceptional job bringing that character to life — called Bathsheba “…a walking contradiction.” In essence, she’s not just some flawless girlboss icon; she’s stubborn, a little full of herself, and makes some truly questionable choices. She’s the kind of character you root for, even though you sometimes want to shake some sense into her.
A Love Triangle That Puts Darcy’s Brooding To Shame
At its heart, Far from the Madding Crowd is a story about choices… and the men who force Bathsheba to make them. Each of her three suitors represents a different kind of love, and the way she responds to them shapes her entire journey. First, there’s Gabriel Oak, the loyal farmer she rejects early on. He’s the quiet, stable one who’s always there to bail her out when her sheep get into trouble (literally). He’s not about grand gestures; he’s the guy who fixes your roof without being asked. He’s the green flag you initially overlook for the flashier model.
Speaking of flashier models, enter Sergeant Frank Troy (Tom Sturridge), who is a walking red flag in a literally red uniform. Their meet-cute is a famous sword-fighting scene in a fern-filled grove, arguably one of the most tense and emotionally charged moments ever put to film. It’s all heavy breathing and flashing steel. You know he’s bad news, but you also get why she’s into it. Then there’s William Boldwood (Michael Sheen), the wealthy landowner whose loneliness turns into obsession after Bathsheba playfully sends him a Valentine’s Day gift. What begins as flattering affection turns into unsettling obsession, and ultimately, a lesson in why you shouldn’t lead people on, even as a joke.
What keeps all this from feeling like a love triangle cliché is how grounded it feels. Bathsheba isn’t portrayed as heartless or naïve; she’s learning, often the hard way, what it means to have choices — something many women of her time didn’t. Every relationship teaches her something about power, pride, and vulnerability. By the time she finally confronts her feelings for Gabriel, the moment feels earned. The emotional texture here is what sets the movie apart because Director Thomas Vinterberg doesn’t chase melodrama. As one reviewer puts it, “There is plenty of desire on display here, conveyed in the tremble of the lip or in the intensity of the gaze, or in the deeply saturated colours of a hayfield.”, and honestly, that sums up the work he did.
So, if you’ve already watched Pride and Prejudice a dozen times and still crave that spark, Far from the Madding Crowd might be your next favorite discovery. You can watch the period drama on Disney+.
