Sense and Sensibility (1995)

"Perhaps Margaret is right."

"Right?"

"Piracy is our only option."

After the death of their father, Elinor (Thompson), Marianne (Winslet), Margaret (Francois), and their mother (Jones) are left with nothing.  Their half brother John (Fleet) and his ruthless wife Fanny (Walter) move into the family estate, while the women move to a cottage in the country owned by Mrs. Dashwood's cousin Sir John Middleton (Hardy).

Elinor is responsible and does everything she can to care for her mother and sisters.  As she tries to hold her family together, she starts to fall for Fanny's awkward brother Edward Ferrars (Grant).  Marianne is a dreamer and a romantic, with a deep love for poetry.  She catches the attention of wealthy bachelor Colonel Brandon (Rickman), but she falls hard for John Willoughby (Wise) after he rescues her.  Can the Dashwood women find love and security?


As I mentioned, I enjoy Jane Austen novels.  Sense and Sensibility was my entry into Austen's world and holds a special place in my heart.  I also read and analyzed the novel in at least one of my collegiate English courses.  One of the classes analyzed the relationship between novel and film adaptation, so we also watched and analyzed this film.

Producer Lindsay Doran was a huge Austen fan, and asked Emma Thompson to write an adaptation of Sense and Sensibility.  Thompson was also an Austen fan and wanted to write a faithful adaptation; she spent five years writing the script.  Doran brought in Taiwanese director Ang Lee to direct the film, even though he was unfamiliar with Austen's novels.

The film is fairly faithful to the novel.  There are differences, as to be expected in adaptations, such as the omission of minor characters and storylines.  Some character traits were changed to absorb parts of other characters and to further show the audience the personalities of the characters (this is most notable with the 3 male leads).

I love this movie.  The casting is great (although perhaps there were better choices for some of the characters).  Thompson and Kate Winslet are great as the leads.  The rest of the cast feel appropriate for their roles and bring some life to the characters.  You hate the characters you should, and are intrigued by the characters you should... I love the Palmers (Imelda Staunton and Hugh Laurie), they are ridiculous (her) and hilariously sarcastic (him).

In 2008, BBC aired a TV miniseries of Sense and Sensibility (directed by John Alexander, screenplay by Andrew Davies).  With a runtime of 174 minutes, this adaptation was able to be even more faithful.  I have yet to see this version (but I intend to see it).

Sense and Sensibility (1995) 131 minutes
Director: Ang Lee
Starring: Emma Thompson as Elinor Dashwood
Kate Winslet as Marianne Dashwood
Hugh Grant as Edward Ferrars
Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon
Gemma Jones as Mrs. Dashwood
Greg Wise as John Willoughby
Emilie Francois as Margaret Dashwood
Elizabeth Spriggs as Mrs. Jennings
Robert Hardy as Sir John Middleton
James Fleet as John Dashwood
Harriet Walter as Fanny Dashwood