Any Jane Austen adaptation has a lot to live up to. It must not only honor the source material but also measure up to the countless Austen adaptations that have come before, particularly Joe Wright’s 2005 “Pride and Prejudice,” considered the gold standard among fans.
Jane Austen is known for her classic romance novels set against the English countryside during the late 1700s and early 1800s, typically concluding with a dramatic love confession. Her stories have endured for generations, blending social commentary and romance in a way readers just can’t seem to forget, hence the many adaptations and recreations, including iconic films like “Clueless” and “Bridget Jones’s Diary.”
With a “classic” label to live up to, Georgia Oakley’s “Sense and Sensibility” takes on a story many fans already love and leaves them knowing Austen’s legacy is in good hands. Released Oct. 16, Oakley’s adaptation brought Austen’s words to life on 35 mm film and paced them with integrity.
Oakley’s film beats the same heart as the beloved 2005 “Pride and Prejudice” adaptation, from an enchanting soundtrack to similar cinematography. There is something so unmistakably Austenian about lingering eyes across ballrooms, held for just a second too long, or figures moving with verve through endless green fields.
Also carrying the same autumnal magic and sisterly love as Greta Gerwig’s 2019 “Little Women,” Oakley’s “Sense and Sensibility” fits in well among beloved literary adaptations.
Beyond the similarities, “Sense and Sensibility” took a familiar story and made it new with standout performances from leads Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esmeé Creed-Miles.
Edgar-Jones looks just right in the empire waistline of the Georgian era, no iPhone face in sight. In fact, hair and makeup artist Nadia Stacey enforced a strict no-makeup rule for the film. Looking effortlessly at home in the time period, Edgar-Jones feels perfectly suited for an Austenian period piece.
Playing Elinor Dashwood, Edgar-Jones nailed her character’s reserved and mature manner, contrasting Esmeé Creed-Miles’ portrayal of her sister, Marianne Dashwood, who is emotional and passionate. Creed-Miles’ performance is raw and vulnerable, and audiences can feel Marianne’s emotion and heartbreak through the screen.
Creed-Miles’ emotional intensity is especially evident in her delivery of a line the writers added for Marianne: “Had I felt less, I would have been capable of more.” This line closely resembles Mr. Knightley’s love confession in Austen’s “Emma”: “If I loved you less, then I might be able to talk about it more.”
Both lines capture a recurring theme in Austen’s work: characters whose feelings run so deep they become difficult to put into words.
This same sentiment is present in the relationship between Marianne and Colonel Brandon, whom Herbert Nordrum portrays. While Marianne wears her heart on her sleeve, the Colonel’s stoicism and patience make his feelings much harder to read. Their declaration of love is understated, and some viewers might not catch it if they don’t pay attention closely.
This differs from Austen’s usual emotional and dramatic love confession, one that is still present through Elinor and Edward, whom George MacKay brings to life. Near the end of the film, Elinor and Edward fall to their knees as they admit their true feelings for one another, a classic Jane Austen moment. But this isn’t the final act of love that closes the film.
“Sense and Sensibility” differs from Austen’s usual stories in that its central relationship is not one of romantic love. Instead, the story’s core relationship is that of Marianne and Elinor. While romantic love may drive the plot, the love between the two sisters gives it meaning.
Marianne and Elinor are complete opposites at heart. Marianne is full of feeling and passion, while Elinor makes decisions with her head. Reserved, mature, pragmatic and practical, Elinor is the sense to Marianne’s sensibility.
Their relationship remains the beating heart of the film, echoed in the final scene when the two sisters embrace after their respective journeys to find a husband. Through heartbreak, change and loss, they remain by each other’s side, with a love that transcends romance binding them.
Oakley’s candlelit and moody aesthetic contrasts well with the laughs courtesy of Fiona Shaw as Mrs. Jennings, because what is Jane Austen without a little comic relief? A cast straight out of the 1790s brings this balance of humor and emotion to life and reminds audiences of the wit and complexity that make Jane Austen’s works truly classic and time-transcending.
