Persuasion

Persuasion tells the story of Anne Elliot and Captain Frederick Wentworth. Eight years prior to the film's beginning, Anne - at the age of 19 - was engaged to Wentworth. However, her father Sir Walter Elliot and especially the family friend Lady Russell persuaded Anne in breaking off the engagement. Despite mutual feelings on both sides, Wentworth was not considered worthy enough in rank and wealth. Eight years later, due to the careless spending of Sir Walter and his eldest daughter Elizabeth, the family is in financial difficulties. Therefore, the Elliot family residence, Kellynch Hall, in Somersetshire, has to be let out. Suitable renters are soon found in Admiral Croft and his wife. Mrs Croft is the sister of Frederick Wentworth, who has risen to Captain in the meantime and has become rich while serving in the Royal Navy. While her elder sister Elizabeth and her father Sir Walter set off for their new residence in Bath, Anne is left to take care of further business in Somersetshire, including taking care of her hypochondriac sister Mary Musgrove, married to Charles Musgrove and living in a nearby estate. Before she joins her father in Bath, Anne and Wentworth, on one of his visits to his sister Mrs Croft, meet once again. While staying with her sister Mary, Anne and Captain Wentworth are bound to meet frequently. Thereby, she has to witness Captain Wentworth's advances towards Charles Musgrove's young and lively sisters, especially to Louisa and wonders if he will ever forgive her or even love her again.

More than seven years prior to the events in the novel, Anne Elliot fell in love with a handsome and ambitious, but poor, young naval officer, Frederick Wentworth. The Elliots, led by Sir Walter, Anne's father and lord of the family estate, were dissatisfied with her choice, feeling he was not distinguished enough for their family; her older friend and mentor, Lady Russell, acting in place of Anne's deceased mother, persuaded her to break off the match. Now age 27 and considered a spinster, Anne re-encounters her former fiance as he associates with the Musgrove family. Now Wentworth is an 'early' captain -and wealthy- due to his warfare successes in the Royal Navy, including his capture of prize-money (enemy) shipping; but he still harbors enmity towards Anne for her rejection of him. Meanwhile, the self-interested machinations of Anne's father, her older sister Elizabeth, Elizabeth's friend Mrs. Clay, and William Elliot, Anne's cousin and her father's heir, constitute important subplots.

The Persuasions are an a cappella group that began singing together in Brooklyn, New York in the mid-1960s.