Movies in May – Love and Friendship

Do you love films based on Jane Austen’s work or life, well, then you’ll love our theme this month. Grab your popcorn and a soda! It’s time for Movies in May!

I can’t think of a better way to end our Movies in May theme this month than by doing a review of the most recent Jane Austen film, Love and Friendship, which is based on her epistolary novella, Lady Susan.

 


Lady Susan is believed to have been written when Jane Austen was only 19 or 20 (amazing, with the nature of it!). It was not published until after her death by her nephew, James Edward Austen-LLove_&_Friendship_postereigh, in his Memoir of Jane Austen. She likely never intended to publish it herself, and it is thought she tired of writing it, rushing the ending.

Now, I must confess (gulp!) that I had never read Lady Susan. At least, I never finished reading it. Being written only in letter form, I found it difficult to keep track of who the people were and what was happening. I found it difficult to “catch their tone of conversation” (as Mr. Darcy says). I felt that in order to grasp who people were and what was happening, I would need to take notes about each character and who they were and what they did from the letters. Needless to say I gave up.

Which is why I found the beginning of the film so humorous! Instead of just beginning the film, they showed each of the characters, their names, and a very brief summary of who they were. This is exactly what I would have needed as I read the book! Some were quite entertaining (and true to point!)

Lady Susan Vernon, played superbly by Kate Beckinsale, is the main character in the story. She is not your typical Austen character, although in my mind I kept comparing her to Emma (being manipulative) or even Lucy Steele (who is manipulative as well as mean). Lady Susan is a widow who has a teenage daughter, Frederica (played by Morfydd Clark), who has been sent away to school. It is apparent she does not care for her daughter. In fact, Lady Susan cares for no one but herself, continually puts people down, but then does not understand why they do not like her. She also knows precisely how to manipulate men.

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The one gentleman we see her use her arts on is Reginald De Courcy (played by Xavier Samuel), the brother of the Mrs. Vernon, Lady Susan’s sister-in-law. Lady Susan has come to Churchill, the estate of her late husband’s brother and his family, and young Reginald comes to see this lady whose reputation has followed her there. He has heard about who she is, the most recent family she destroyed because of a dalliance with the husband, and her conniving ways. Once he meets her and spends time with her, however, he begins to believe all her excuses for how she was misunderstood and maligned, and he is sucked in.

Lady Susan also has plans for her daughter to marry Sir James Martin (played wonderfully by Tom Bennett), who provides much of the comedy in this film. Our introduction to him (he is referred to as a bit of a rattle and Frederica’s unintended) is one of the funniest scenes in the whole movie. Frederica refuses to marry him, and we can immediately understand why. He is a buffoon of all buffoons, and is so hilariously awkward in both speech and manners it was painfully fun to watch.

I won’t give away too much of the plot, but want to add that the cinematography, scenery, costumes, and music are wonderful. What a joy it was to feel as though we were actually stepping back in time. There was even one scene I was discussing with the young gal I saw it with. She liked the fact that this scene depicted what life would have really been like when a carriage that was backing up almost hit someone and they had to scurry out of the way. I had wondered whether it was just something that happened while filming and they decided to keep it in. I guess the carriages didn’t have the back-up cameras on them like we do today. 🙂

My final thoughts: This is very unlike any other Jane Austen novel or film. Our heroine is definitely not likeable, and you really don’t want a ‘happily ever after’ for her. In all of Austen’s other novels, our hearts tug with the hope that the hero and heroine will finally fall in love and get together at the end. I had no such heart tuggings, and when there was a wedding at the end, I felt like, “Ok, that was nice. So and so got married.” Jane Austen had said she didn’t write romance novels, and I would definitely agree that this was not a romance novel, despite there being a slight romance.

The acting was superb, and I have to admit I liked Xavier Samuel (Reginald). I couldn’t help thinking he would do well portraying Mr. Darcy if another Pride and Prejudice is made. Unfortunately, he is already too old (33 I believe) and by the time they make another one, his age would likely put him out of the running.

I enjoyed the film very much and give it two thumbs up. It captures a lot of Austen’s wit that has been left out of the other film adaptations.

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Oh, and I began reading Lady Susan right after seeing the film and was actually able to follow it! The director, Whit Stillman, took some liberties with it (especially the ending), but he was able to capture the essence of the story quite well.

Have you seen it and what are your thoughts?


 

22 comments

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    • Vee on May 31, 2016 at 6:02 am
    • Reply

    Wonderful thanks Kara. Love your passage and now I really look foward to watching ‘Love and Friendship’. It sounds like a good laugh. I was exactly like you started to read ‘Lady Susan’ but it didn’t hold my interest. I hope to have more patience with it once I watch the movie. Whenever it arrives Down under that is. Any new books in the wings? I always enjoy your stories 🙂

    1. Thanks, Vee! I hope you get to see it soon. As for you question about any new book, I hope to publish “A Peculiar Engagement” in the next few months. It is complete and being edited (I changed and added to it a great deal from what I posted here), but I am also writing a ‘bonus’ chapter to be included. It will have the ending for Anne according to the events in “Mr. Darcy’s Rival.” I am still working on that chapter. The book will only be a novella, and while I hadn’t intended to publish it, several people have asked if I would. I’ve also seen several people inquire about novels centering on Anne de Bourgh, so I decided to go ahead and publish it. Not sure when it will be ready, though. Thanks for asking!

        • Vee on May 31, 2016 at 4:14 pm
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        Fabulous! I will definitely be buying the novella 🙂

          • Kara Louise on May 31, 2016 at 4:18 pm
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          Thanks!

    • Kristine Shore on May 31, 2016 at 7:30 am
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    I saw it and liked it very much. It has been a while since I have read Lady Susan, but I do recall I did not like it very much at the time. I am considering a re-read. You have to appreciate someone being able to write a script out of a book that is made up of letters. The movie was well cast and costumes and sets were lovely. It was also very funny, which surprised me. Austen’s humor is often lost in adaptations, and here it definitely was not. Thumbs up from me also.

    1. I thought the screenplay was done quite well, considering he only had letters to use. I’m glad you also enjoyed it. Thanks, Kristine!

    • Jennifer Redlarczyk on May 31, 2016 at 8:34 am
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    I have yet to see it but know that it will be fun!

    1. Prepare to laugh out loud! It was fun and well done! Thanks Jennifer!

    • Gwyn on May 31, 2016 at 1:16 pm
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    I’ll have to corral some JA fans and go to the cinema. Thanks!
    I gave “P&P and Zombies” a miss. I read the book and thought it was just plain stupid.
    Jane gave us plenty of wit. Why need it be ruined by zombies?

      • Kara Louise on May 31, 2016 at 3:16 pm
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      I haven’t seen P&P&Z yet, but I think I will give it a try now that it is out. I had no desire to see it, but now I’m just curious. Once will probably be enough. 🙂 But you must go see this one, Gwen!

        • Sheila L. M. on May 31, 2016 at 3:18 pm
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        Prepare to laugh, Kara. They even include a pond scene, at which I was roaring. The theater had only about 10 people.

          • Kara Louise on May 31, 2016 at 3:19 pm
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          I hope to see it soon!

    • Carole in Canada on May 31, 2016 at 1:34 pm
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    Great review and I so want to see this movie! My husband said he would go if Kate wore leather as she did ‘Underworld’! L0L! But he did enjoy P&P&Z with me! However, it doesn’t look like it’s playing near me so may have to wait to buy the DVD and add to my collection!

      • Kara Louise on May 31, 2016 at 3:18 pm
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      If you look at my comment above yours, Carole, you’ll see I haven’t seen P&P&Z, but I think I will give it a try. I have no idea if I’ll like it. But I’m sure you will like this one!

    • Sheila L. M. on May 31, 2016 at 2:37 pm
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    I saw this with Claudine in NYC and we both loved it. Laughing through out most of it. Kate did an excellent job with her role.

      • Kara Louise on May 31, 2016 at 3:18 pm
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      I think one reason this film is enjoyable is because of Kate’s portrayal and acting. She did do an excellent job! Thanks, Sheila!

  1. Kara,
    Wonderful review of the film! I agree that Kate B. did a marvelous job with the role, and I loved Xavier as Reginald too ;). IMO, Tom Bennett stole the show several times. His arrival at Churchill (aka “Church” & “Hill” LOL) was one of the best scenes of the year for me!

      • Kara Louise on May 31, 2016 at 6:53 pm
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      Thanks, Marilyn! I loved Tom Bennet’s entrance – oh, my goodness! It was great!

    • Lauren K. on May 31, 2016 at 7:45 pm
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    I really enjoyed the film! Kate did an amazing job as Lady Susan and she kept me laughing throughout the movie. Chloe did a great job as well. I agree Xavier would’ve been a great Mr. Darcy with that penetrating stare.

      • Kara Louise on May 31, 2016 at 10:44 pm
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      I think Kate made the movie (character) engaging to watch. I know this is a movie I will watch again and again. Thanks, Lauren.

  2. The wife and I saw it last night and thought it wonderful. Was it 100% Austen? No. Did the changes hurt the film? No. In fact, it made it funnier! Kate Beckinsale was exactly the beautiful, charming psychopath Austen created. The supporting cast was great.

    • Beatrice on August 8, 2016 at 10:56 pm
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    I’ve always enjoyed Austen’s novels (except Mansfield Park), but when I discovered Lady Susan, I found it an eye-opener. Unlike you, I loved the book. I adapted it into a play myself (in 2008). You don’t have to tell me how hard that was to convert the novelette into a script! I even asked a local playwright for advice; all he said was it would be difficult. So I have understood all the missteps between this movie being first announced and it FINALLY making it to the screen almost a decade later. IMHO they used those 10 years well – the movie is a triumph. Loved it, loved it. loved it!
    Note: I don’t know if the early reports of a Lady Susan movie being planned or cast involved the same people who ended up doing this and who started shooting it in 2013. However I believe I was hearing rumblings about this movie before 2007.

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