Georgia Oakley’s modern take on Sense and Sensibility earns three‑and‑a‑half stars

Georgia Oakley’s new film adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility has been given three‑and‑a‑half stars. Comparisons with Ang Lee’s 1995 version, which starred Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet and Hugh Grant, were inevitable. Oakley brings a contemporary sensibility to the story of sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, played by Daisy Edgar‑Jones and Esmé Creed‑Miles respectively. Elinor, the ‘sense’ sister, learns to speak her truth while Marianne, the ‘sensibility’ sister, keeps her individuality intact. Both characters find a way to be the “mistress” of their own happiness rather than chasing romance. Their youngest sister Margaret, portrayed by Bodhi Rae Breathnach, supplies the witty one‑liners. The film opens with sweeping shots of the English countryside around the Dashwood family’s Sussex home, Norland Park, before their father’s death forces them to leave the estate, now owned by their half‑brother, and move to the modest Barton Cottage with help from a distant relative. Cinematographer Arnaud Potier lingers over wildflowers and open fields, while Roger Goula’s music adds to the dreamy atmosphere. Song‑and‑dance numbers appear in both the countryside and a formal London ball, highlighting the sisters’ contrasting social worlds. Oakley, fresh from her BAFTA‑winning debut Blue Jean, understands why Austen’s heroines still resonate, as shown by the upcoming Netflix Pride and Prejudice retelling by Dolly Alderton and Euros Lyn set for Dec 3. The cast also includes George MacKay, Frank Dillane, Caitríona Balfe and Fiona Shaw. ## Context The film’s modern spin shows how Austen’s themes of personal agency and emotional honesty still speak to today’s audiences, especially young women seeking their own paths.