WARNING! Spoilers ahead.
31 years on, "Sense and Sensibility" has been adapted for the screen once more, and I can confidently say Jane Austen's genius has been done justice again.
If you don't know the story, allow me to break it down for you. Henry Dashwood dies, and his wife, Mrs. Dashwood (Caitríona Balfe), and their three daughters, Elinor (Daisy Edgar-Jones), Marianne (Esmé Creed-Miles), and Margaret (Bodhi Rae Breathnach), are left with F— all inheritance.
The majority of his estate, Norland Park, is left to his son, John. John and his wagon of a wife, Fanny, move in immediately and mark their territory.
Fanny's brother, Edward Ferrars, comes to stay with them, and instantly, he and Elinor hit it off. It's a slow-burn romance, with neither of them admitting to the other their feelings, and seeing the friendship out, but everyone around them clocks on, as does Fanny.
She's not happy about it; she believes her brother can do better than a Dashwood, and does everything she can to prevent it from developing. And after a snide remark at dinner, Mrs. Dashwood has had enough of her insinuating that Elinor isn't good enough for her precious brother, and they up sticks.
To Devonshire they move, where Marianne meets Colonel Brandon. He falls in love at first sight, but she's not so convinced because of his lack of passion. Sensibility, after all.
*Enter stage left* John Willoughby, who matches Marianne's vivacious nature. What follows is a passionate, enthusiastic love affair for the ages, while her sister, distraught as she is over Edward, keeps her head firmly planted on her shoulders — sense.
And then it's off to London with the sisters, who, even though they were raised by the same parents in the same household, have very different approaches to life.
I won't say too much more about the storyline; if you're not familiar with it, I'm urging you to book tickets to the cinema. Now.
"Sense and Sensibility" (2026) is directed by Georgia Oakley, with an adapted screenplay by Diana Reid, and cinematography by Arnaud Potier, all of whom had their head in the game when it came to making this film.
The film somewhat echoes "Little Women" (2019) in terms of direction and cinematography. The use of a handheld camera in particular scenes lends itself to a far more immersive experience for the audience.
The visuals, although incredibly photorealistic and a little dull, are beautiful. And the realism is applaudable, right down to the dirty fingernails that capture Marianne's obsession with nature.
All four Dashwood women are beautiful, but it's a refined beauty - very minimal makeup, hair in slight disarray - that encapsulates the ordinary human experience.
In terms of the cast, each and every one of them brought their A-game to the project, but it's Fiona Shaw's Mrs. Jennings that's a scene-stealer, in my opinion.
She's a character we love to hate because of her eccentricity and singularity, but by GOD does she command a room, and that's all down to Fiona's performance.
Ok, maybe we're a little biased because she's one of our own, but we don't think Fiona Shaw gets the flowers she deserves on the whole, and she absolutely deserves them for this role.
Elsewhere, Esmé Creed-Miles hits the nail on the head when it comes to Marianne's head-in-the-sky, leads-with-the-heart nature, while Daisy Edgar-Jones knows her way around Elinor's reserved, practical nature.
Having watched "Normal People," it's a little jarring to hear Daisy Edgar-Jones referring to someone else as 'Marianne,' and if I'm honest, it's not something I got used to during the film.
Although she doesn't get as much screen time as her on-screen sisters, it was lovely to see young Irish girl Bodhi Rae Breathnach in action in "Sense and Sensibility" — we sense she'll be booked and busy down the line.
And of course, Caitríona Balfe delivers another exceptional performance, not quite standout, but not far off, as family matriarch Mrs. Dashwood.
Bodhi Rae Breathnach and Caitríona Balfe in "Sense and Sensibility." (Universal Pictures)
Side note: George Mackay's Edward Ferrars, dreamy!
It's an enjoyable 131-minute watch, particularly if you enjoy the likes of "Little Women" and "Downton Abbey," and because it's loyal to the source material, I don't think Jane Austen will be turning in her grave.
You can watch the trailer for "Sense and Sensibility" here:
*This article was originally published on Evoke.ie.
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