The latest film version of Jane Austen’s novel lands with a gentle charm, anchored by Daisy Edgar-Jones’ performance and a folk-infused score.
Daisy Edgar-Jones takes on Elinor Dashwood in Georgia Oakley’s fresh take on Sense and Sensibility, a film that doesn’t reinvent the wheel but turns it with grace. Released this week, the movie unfolds like a long-lost Bollywood musical — less about plot mechanics, more about mood, texture, and the quiet ache of unspoken feelings.
Edgar-Jones delivers a performance that’s both restrained and radiant, embodying Elinor’s sense with a stillness that feels earned. Her counterpart, Marianne (Esmé Creed-Miles), burns bright with passion, her emotional arcs playing out against moors and candlelit drawing rooms. The chemistry between the sisters is palpable, even when the script leans into familiar tropes.
The men are mostly defined by their hesitation. John Willoughby (Frank Dillane) is the brooding cad we’ve seen before, while Edward Ferrars (George MacKay) offers earnestness without much backbone. Colonel Brandon (Herbert Nordrum) arrives late, as tradition demands, his quiet devotion a slow-burn counterpoint to the chaos of young love.
Fiona Shaw steals scenes as Mrs. Jennings, her sharp wit cutting through the genteel decorum. Her lines land with the kind of dry humour that could’ve fit in a Blackadder episode. And yes, there’s a moment where she says something so perfectly absurd it makes you laugh out loud, no spoilers, just truth.
The production design walks a line between authenticity and whimsy. Highland cattle instead of Devon breed? Cute. Hairstyles not quite period-perfect? A minor quibble. But the countryside looks lush, the ballroom sequences have rhythm, and the score, folk melodies layered over delicate strings, feels like a breath of air after a season of horror and dystopia.
It’s not the definitive Sense and Sensibility. That title still belongs to Ang Lee’s 1995 version. But this one has its own heartbeat. It’s the kind of film you watch after a long day, when you want tea, sandwiches, and someone else’s complicated love life.
And if you’re looking for something to escape Halloween’s blood-soaked frenzy, this is your ticket. No cursed artifacts. Just longing glances and a piano playing softly in the background.
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