Though diehard fans may resist the idea that anything will better Colin Firth’s drenched shirt and britches as the ultimate onscreen Austen moment, this latest version of the much-loved romance takes a lot of beating.

Although the novel has been adapted numerous times, this is only the second instance (excluding Bride and Prejudice, which is probably best forgotten) that it has made it on to the big screen rather than Sunday afternoon television. The difference, in the hands of Wright, is immediately striking.

An Altmanesque convoluted single tracking shot introduces us to the Bennets in their chaotic household — the squawking sisters indoors and stray farmyard geese outside are nice touches. Later, a beautifully choreographed sequence follows Lizzie (Knightley) exchanging gossip with her sister during a dance, while simultaneously trying to fend off the earnest Mr Collins (a terrific turn from Tom Hollander).

Wright has done a remarkable job in capturing both the playfulness and youthfulness of the story while avoiding the common tendency to over-prettify a costume drama. The Bennets and their neighbours may not be quite the unkempt rubes that Miss Bingley suggests, but they’re not far off.

As Lizzie, Knightley really finds her feet as an actress. I had previously found her inconsistent, but here she is enchanting. It is also worth noting that she is the first actress anywhere near the right age to play the role — Greer Garson was 36 when she starred in the 1940 film. And although it takes a while to warm to MacFadyen’s frosty Darcy, the chemistry between the pair is incendiary. They argue furiously with their faces so close to each other they are practically kissing, and you can see the foundations of their mutual dislike crumbling. It’s a delicious moment in an immensely enjoyable film.