Director: Georgia Oakley
Starring: Daisy Edgar-Jones, George MacKay and Fiona Shaw
‘A Powerful Period Piece’
When it comes to legendary authors that deserve recognition, it’s worth discussing Jane Austen. Through depicting the sense and sensibility of women in the 18th Century, Austen built a lasting legacy. On a personal level, I find the author special. My grandmother once appreciated the legendary author’s iconic literature. I recall with nostalgia positive memories of a grandma that loved reading stories about Emma Woodhouse in the Victorian Era. Fond of Jane Austen, she expressed admiration for an author writing books about little women. Drawn towards Mansfield Park, she would positively remark about an author leaving a lasting mark. It rarely took persuasion for her to read books she regarded with affection. Jane Austen was the favourite author of my grandmother whose books she would treasure. My grandmother’s love for the Dashwood family began during childhood. Born in a literary household, she was raised in a family where tales of the author were told. Raised in an age of innocence, she was given wise guidance by parents to treasure books shaping her life experience. I would enjoy spending the remains of the day with a grandma which inspired my love for English literature in every way. However, terminal illness brought my grandmother’s love for literature to a painful closure. After she passed away from Cancer, my grandmother never got chances to see film adaptations based on her favourite author. Facing hardship, I questioned my devotion to an author whose books about love and friendship I used to worship. As prejudiced as Mr. Darcy, I couldn’t take pride in Jane Austen after losing a grandma I loved dearly. Feeling clueless, I couldn’t admire books I considered to be worthless after my grandma passed away from illness. Years later, I treasure legendary literature that’s a sad reminder of my grandmother.
As someone treasuring fond memories of a grandmother that admired an author with sense and sensibility, I adored “Sense and Sensibility”. Released in 2026, Georgia Oakley’s latest movie offers a spectacular adaptation of Jane Austen’s most sensible book. Packed with breathtaking sets, engaging storytelling and phenomenal performances, it’s an amazing literary adaptation. At the centre of it all is Daisy Edgar-Jones, who embodies a legendary literary heroine. Although “Sense and Sensibility” is riveting, it isn’t a flawless film. Its slow pacing tests viewers’ patience. Nevertheless, it offers spellbinding entertainment for Jane Austen fans.
Set in the 18th Century, “Sense and Sensibility” follows a pair of sisters seeking love with sensibility. Daisy Edgar-Jones embodies Elinor Dashwood, a young woman whose life is misunderstood. Elinor has always shared a powerful bond with her sister Marianne (Esme Creed-Miles). However, Elinor’s strong bond with her sister is tested when she finds a romantic suitor. Facing a serious dilemma, Elinor questions her purpose in a prejudiced era.
Georgia Oakley is fascinated by women seeking self-discovery. Her debut “Blue Jean” offered powerful portraits of lesbian women following a strict routine. With “Sense and Sensibility”, however, Oakley crafted her first Jane Austen adaptation. It’s the filmmaker’s first attempt to adapt a legendary Jane Austen book but she succeeds. Evoking Ang Lee’s “Sense & Sensibility”, Oakley effectively uses natural lighting capturing bonds between sisters showcasing sensibility. For instance, natural lighting elevates the love confession scene. During this heartfelt scene, Elinor and Marianne share intimate conversations discussing their crushes showcasing their bond together. It brought back fond memories of my strong bond with a grandmother that adored Jane Austen’s stories. Natural lighting is a tricky technique. As James Ivory’s “The Remains of the Day” suggested, natural lighting elevates period pieces about British butlers. Nevertheless, it works immensely. Using breathtaking visuals, Oakley captures hardships sisters are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Sense and Sensibility” worth discussing is production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the most impressive Jane Austen films ever made. Evoking Joe Wright’s “Pride & Prejudice”, Oakley effectively uses costume design to capture women without prejudice. Throughout the movie, Elinor’s costumes showcase her strong personality as a woman seeking prosperity in the 18th Century. For instance, costumes elevate the ballroom dance scene. During this unforgettable scene, Elinor has intimate dances with Edward Ferrars at the ballroom party wearing a fancy dress. It reminded me about my grandmother’s dress sense that my family always appreciated. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Roger Goula’s score contributes to the success of the movie. It gives the film an intimate atmosphere honouring an author about which readers deeply care. Through phenomenal production, Oakley honours Jane Austen.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Sense and Sensibility” is a Jane Austen adaptation that’s compelling. In Hollywood, most Jane Austen adaptations ignore issues of heroines that are misunderstood. For instance, Autumn De Wilde’s “Emma” depicted women with charisma overcoming barriers of sexism during the regency era. Thankfully, though, “Sense and Sensibility” avoids pitfalls of the genre. Evoking Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women”, Oakley uses sequences of silence capturing hardships faced by women. For instance, silence elevates the terminal illness scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Elinor grows extremely concerned when she discovers her sister has contracted an illness. It reminded me of my grief when I discovered a grandmother I appreciated died from illness leaving me devastated. Silence is a tricky technique. As Martin Scorsese’s “The Age of Innocence” suggested, silence elevates period pieces about aristocratic women. Amy Heckerling’s “Clueless” proved that silence elevates coming-of-age movies about clueless teens. Nevertheless, it works immensely. Through a spectacular screenplay, Oakley honours an author that’s beloved today.
One appreciates astonishing performances.
Daisy Edgar-Jones delivers one of her best career performances as Elinor Dashwood. Edgar-Jones achieved appreciation for playing heroines in beloved television shows. With “Sense and Sensibility”, however, she took on her most complex role. It isn’t easy to embody a legendary Jane Austen heroine but she succeeds. Evoking Frances O’Connor in Patricia Rozema’s “Mansfield Park”, Edgar-Jones embodies a woman with a bright spark seeking to leave a lasting mark. With riveting expressions, she embodies the angst, frustration and sensibility of a woman seeking romantic relations. It’s a powerful performance from one of the finest actresses today.
While the movie is mainly a showcase for Edgar-Jones, the supporting cast is also spectacular. Esme Creed-Miles is extraordinary, capturing the heartache of a woman that’s rejected by her lover in the 18th Century. Fiona Shaw is fantastic, bringing comical relief to an aristocratic woman that experiences a dilemma in the regency era. Lastly, George MacKay merits appreciation. As a handsome suitor, he is unforgettable.
Despite its phenomenal performances, however, “Sense and Sensibility” can’t honour the legendary literature of an author readers love dearly. If there’s a shortcoming to the movie, it lacks engaging pacing. Oakley’s decision to deviate from the source material by integrating subplots about royal duels into the movie is admirable but hinders the pacing. Due to this faulty technique, scenes capturing Colonel Brandon’s frightening duels with Willoughby aren’t as engaging as Elinor’s journey to discover her identity. As Yorgos Lanthimos’ “The Favourite” suggested, subplots about duels elevate lesbian period piece movies. At worst, the duel subplot deviates from the source material tarnishing the meaning of Austen’s literature. Therefore, “Sense and Sensibility” can’t entirely honour a legendary book people adore.
Nevertheless, fans of Jane Austen will definitely appreciate “Sense & Sensibility” and so would audiences seeking meaningful entertainment. An awe-inspiring literary adaptation, it celebrates an author that deserves appreciation.
Centuries following the publication of a legendary book about sensible women seeking romance during the 18th Century, it’s a sensational reminder of an author that achieved popularity writing stories that deserve to be depicted in memorable movies.
As strong as Elinor’s relationship with her sister, it has motivated me to move on several years after the heartbreaking death of my grandmother that passed away from Cancer whose love for the commemorated literature published by a centuries-old author motivated me to accomplish my dreams of becoming a writer.
4.5/5 stars
