Don’t despair, dear romantics.Jane Austen Wrecked My Lifewill renew hope for lonely souls seeking a literate true love— think breathless poetry, ballroom dancing and dashing suitors. In her feature debut, writer/director Laura Piani mocks modern coupling with a clever take on the virtues of old-fashioned courtship that’s admittedly fanciful, but brims with heart, good humor and a sprinkling of sex appeal. There’s a genuine spark to being wooed in the flesh, and Piani’s film is a welcome diversion from algorithmic modern dating.
Jane Austen Wrecked My Lifeopens in a Parisian book store, where Agathe Robinson (an enchanting Camille Rutherford) dances and sings through rows of classics as she closes for the night. Agathe bikes home to the apartment she shares with her sister Mona (Alice Butaud) and six-year-old nephew Tom (Roman Angel), and can’t help but grimace when Tom crawls into her bed and pointedly states that, while his mother sometimes entertains lovers, there’s never a man in Agathe’s room.
Hearts Will Flutter
Jane Austen Wrecked My Life
The next morning, Félix (Pablo Pauly), Agathe’s best friend and co-worker, is ignoring calls from his usual stable of scorned women. Félix teases Agathe about her long dry spell;Agathe responds by quoting Jane Austen, branding Félix as Henry Crawford fromMansfield Park, while she’s the “old maid” Anne Elliott inPersuasion. Agathe isn’t looking for one-night stands or dating via “Uber apps,” but Félix believes she’ll end up alone waiting for Mr. Darcy.
Agathe is upset to learn that Félix has submitted one of her unfinished novels to the Jane Austen Residency. She’s even more gobsmacked to be accepted to the two-week retreat. Agathe believes she’ll be humiliated — she’s just a no-talent book clerk — but Mona and Félix refuse to let her pass on such a rare opportunity. Soon, Agathe arrives in England by ferry, and makes quite an impression on Oliver Lowe (Charlie Anson), a distant relative of Jane Austen whose aged parents run the writer’s retreat.
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Piani does a good job of framing Agathe’s character in the first act: She’s a complex woman haunted by fears of inadequacy and a tragic event in her past. Agathe believes she was born in the wrong century, but she isn’t unattractive or boring in any sense. She has a fascinating personality and a sharp tongue, and she’s not willing to settle or sacrifice her standards for quick satisfaction. This guarded nature proves to be a stumbling block to her happiness, and Agathe must learn to drop her guard and make the most of a magical experience.
The second act thickens the plot in true Austen fashion with quirky supporting characters and a competition for Agathe’s affection. Her annoyance with the arrogant but handsome Oliver takes the expected, Austen-esque turn: He’s enamored with this spirited French woman, who thinks she’s out of place but probably belongs there more than anyone else. Meanwhile, absence makes the heart grow fonder as Félix becomes a permanent fixture in Agathe’s thoughts. There’s more to their friendship than either of them want to admit, and suppressed feelings come to light for them both.
Team Oliver or Team Félix?
The film’s setting is magnificent, and the retreat’s lush grounds and stately mansion become an idyllic battleground for Agathe’s love story. The ensemble’s fireside chats, garden walks and long gazes over English dinners raise the collective temperature, loosening collars and corsets. The Insecure Agathe is now a prize that Oliver and Félix are competing to win — a predictable setup, but it gets a pass because that’sthe crux of many Austen romances.Her heroines are real women who inspire sincere interest, and Oliver and Félix can see something that Agathe has not yet realized: She is supremely desirable and worthy of pursuit.
Unfortunately,Jane Austen Wrecked My Lifeloses luster in a forced climax. Dances are pivotal in Austen’s novels, the places where her characters really get down to business and intentions are laid bare. Piana builds to a similar dramatic moment, but the setting doesn’t make sense in modern times. When did everyone take etiquette and cotillion lessons for a choreographed ball? It looks cool, but there wasn’t a second of exposition to establish this collective fluency. This isn’t a fantasy, so the third act shouldn’t have played like one. Thankfully, Piana does rein in the extravagance for a sweet and endearing (and more believable) conclusion.
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You don’t have to be an Austen fan or expert to enjoy this film, which is highbrow and sophisticated without being inaccessible. Agathe’s woes are extremely relatable, and it’s fun choosing sides between team Oliver and team Félix. However, it is fairly obvious who’ll win Agathe’s heart. Was there any doubt that Mr. Darcy would fall madly in love with Elizabeth Bennet?
Jane Austen Wrecked My Life(originally titledJane Austen a gâché ma vie)has French and English dialogue with English subtitles. A Sciapode and Les Films Du Veyrier production, it opens in limited theaters on May 23rd via Sony Pictures Classics, with a national rollout to follow.
