2 hours 15 minutes, USA/UK 1995
Director: Ang Lee; Producer: Lindsay Doran; Screenplay: Emma Thompson, based on the novel by Jane Austen; Photography: Michael Coulter; Production Design: Luciana Arrighi; Editing: Tim Squyres; Music: Patrick Doyle.
Stars: Emma Thompson (Elinor Dashwood), Alan Rickman (Colonel Brandon), Kate Winslet (Marianne Dashwood), Hugh Grant (Edward Ferrars), Greg Wise (John Willoughby), Gemma Jones (Mrs. Dashwood), Emilie Francois (Margaret Dashwood), Elizabeth Spriggs (Mrs. Jennings), Robert Hardy (Sir John Middleton), Imogen Stubbs (Lucy Steele).
Following hot on the heels of TV's Pride And Prejudice and the sadly barely-released Persuasion, the in-vogue Jane Austin gets her third adaptation with Sense and Sensibility, a wonderfully English romance which arrives in Britain praised by all the critics and laden down with Oscar nominations.
It is late eighteenth-century England and, when their father dies, the Dashwood family (three sisters, Elinor, Marianne and Margaret, and their mother) lose their home because, traditionally, the inheritance passes to the first son. Unfortunately John (James Fleet), the first son, is married to the socially ambitious Fanny (Harriet Walter), who wastes no time in taking over at the Dashwood's home. The three sisters reluctantly go to stay with their cousin Sir John Middleton and his mother-in-law Mrs. Jennings at their home in Devon. However, the eldest sister Elinor has become secretly enamoured with Fanny's shy brother Edward Ferrars. Whilst out walking on the moors near the Middleton house one day, Marianne, the middle sister, falls down and twists her ankle, only to be rescued by the ruggedly handsome John Willoughby, who happened to be out riding. Marianne falls instantly and passionately in love with Willoughby, much to the dismay of the quiet, charming Colonel Brandon, who also lives nearby. Thus begins a tragically comic story of love and love lost as the women of the Dashwood family find more about themselves and the world than they could ever have imagined.
Living in today's society is easy for the viewer to wonder how people ever fell in love back in those days. The formality and structure of society, its traditions and restrictive order made it virtually impossible for people to enjoy any privacy or informality. For example, can you ever imagine trying to meet someone when you must never address them by their first name, always bow/curtsey whenever they enter or leave the room, and never ever be alone, no matter how innocently, with anyone of the opposite sex? One of the most surprising things about Sense and Sensibility is that is expertly directed by a man from Taiwan - Ang Lee, who also made The Wedding Banquet and Eat Drink Man Woman. However, when you think about it, he actually is the perfect man for the job. His previous films, although set in the Orient, had the same themes of tight-knit families, ancient traditions and rigid guidelines for how people one must live their lives running through them. But, despite all these things, this otherwise seemingly innocent and idyllic lifestyle is expertly portrayed by an excellent cast. Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet have instant on-screen chemistry playing the two sisters Elinor and Marianne, the personalities of whom explain the title. Elinor, who secretly loves Edward Ferrars, never lets her true emotions get the better of her, and she never shows her feelings, even to Edward, for fear of creating a stigma for her family by becoming involved with a man 'above her station' - hence sense. Marianne, on the other hand, has too much sensibility - her emotions run away with her and she is very much governed by them, rather than the other way around which, in that society, was considered highly un-ladylike. It is this conflict between hiding and revealing emotions which is at the centre of the film. Another surprising element to Sense and Sensibility is the fact that it is Emma Thompson's own adaptation. Having never written before, it is very pleasing to see a débutante screenwriter giving such a warm, funny and eloquent offering. As I said earlier, Sense and Sensibility is heavily Oscar nominated - seven in all, for Best Picture, Best Actress (Thompson), Supporting Actress (Winslet), Cinematography (Michael Coulter), Costume Design (Jenny Beaven and John Bright), Music (Patrick Doyle, who deserves a special mention) and for Thompson's screenplay. All would be most deserving winners, but I am surprised that Alan Rickman has not been honoured for his very understated performance as the dependably Captain Brandon. The only thing that I found disappointing about this film was Hugh Grant, who seems to be unable to shake of his image as a shy, rather tongue-tied romantic. His acting range seems to be very limited, and if only he could speak without stuttering! That said, the rest of the film was a magical, romantic, funny ride through a forgotten period in English heritage which, through this film, looks sure to be remembered for years to come.
