LOVE & FRIENDSHIP

Article By Briana Pugh
(Sources: loveandfriendshipmovie.com & youtube.com)

From director Whit Stillman, who wrote and directed Barcelona and The Last Days of Disco, comes an adaptation of Jane Austen’s novella “Lady Susan,” called Love & Friendship. Stillman directed and wrote this new adaptation of Austen’s early epistolary novel. Starring Kate Beckinsale, Chloë Sevigny, Xavier Samuel, Emma Greenwell, and Justin Edwards, this newest adaptation of an Austen work looks like it will be just another reason for us to love Austen’s genius.

Stillman’s romantic comedy adaptation is centered on the infamous Lady Susan Vernon (Kate Beckinsale) who takes temporary residence at her in-law’s estate while trying to procure a husband for her daughter as well as herself. Lady Vernon is a widow who is selfish, scheming and altogether unscrupulous, and highly attractive to men; much to the chagrin of the other female characters. Of all romantic comedies that come out of the Hollywood machine, Jane Austen adaptations are my favorite, with the humorous commentary on love culture and the human condition, Austen does it better than anyone. So ladies, if you’re going to drag your husbands/boyfriends to see a few rom/coms this year, make sure to add Whit Stillman’s Love and Friendship to the list. I’m sure with Jane Austen’s work as it’s inspiration, it will be sure to live up to our romantic comedy expectations. 

Synopsis: 

“Set in the opulent drawing rooms of eighteenth-century English society, Love & Friendship focuses on the machinations of a beautiful widow, Lady Susan Vernon (Kate Beckinsale), who, while waiting for social chatter about a personal indiscretion to pass, takes up temporary residence at her in-laws’ estate. While there, the intelligent, flirtatious, and amusingly egotistical Lady Vernon is determined to be a matchmaker for her daughter Frederica—and herself too, naturally. She enlists the assistance of her old friend Alicia (Chloë Sevigny), but two particularly handsome suitors (Xavier Samuel and Tom Bennett) complicate her orchestrations.

Adapting Jane Austen’s unpublished early novella Lady Susan, Whit Stillman returns to the Sundance Film Festival (where his Metropolitan premiered in 1990) in top form with his latest comedy of manners. Kate Beckinsale excels in her role as the deliciously devious Lady Vernon and delivers each line with relish. With exquisite period detail and a script teeming with bon mots and witty dialogue, Love & Friendship is a rare—and rarified—treat.”

Release Date:

Love & Friendship was acquired by Amazon Studios and Roadside Attractions after it played at the Sundance Film Festival. It will be released into theaters May 13th, 2016!