Sense and Sensibility

In early nineteenth-century England, the world of Elinor and Marianne Dashwood is turned upside down: their father’s sudden death costs them not only their home but also their social standing. Subject to the rigid conventions of a class-conscious society, where financial independence for women is virtually non-existent, the two sisters seek happiness in their own distinct ways. Elinor arms herself with reason and calm composure, while Marianne throws herself into fiery passion and romance. Jane Austen’s work possesses a timeless magic; through sharp observations and sparkling wit, she lays bare the intricacies of the human soul. The familiar Sense and Sensibility offers a witty and - even now - relatable portrait of reason, emotion, and the unbreakable bond between two sisters - a bond screenwriter Diana Reid really wanted to emphasize in her adaptation.

Sense and Sensibility is the second feature film by director Georgia Oakley, after her impressive debut Blue Jean (2022), and premiered in London this year. The film is based on Jane Austen's 1811 novel of the same name, just over thirty years since the release of the well-known, Oscar-winning film adaptation by director Ang Lee and screenwriter/actress Emma Thompson. In this earthier, stormier, less polished version by Georgia Oakley, Daisy Edgar-Jones (from the series Normal People, 2020) truly shines as Elinor.