I understand some people didn't understand the choice to break the fourth wall in this adaptation. This was a bold choice as British period adaptations are renowned for their conservative subject matter and are commensurately conservative in the following of established conventions in their production. I can imagine some of my fellow British folk were outraged. I for one felt it worked to help the viewer align with Anne Elliot, Austen's most sympathetic heroine who is often browbeaten and left behind. The main merits of this version are twofold. First, in that Sally Hawkins is just absolutely perfect cast as Anne. She elicits so much sympathy and is so endearing. And second, that of the three adaptations available to us so far, this is the most engaging and modern in style and production value. It is quite short, though the novel is a short one too. But perhaps would have been closer to great if it padded things outa bit more.