Daisy Edgar-Jones leads new Sense and Sensibility adaptation

A new adaptation of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility has been released, starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esmé Creed-Miles as the Dashwood sisters. According to a review in The Guardian, this version is a more downbeat and ruminative take than the celebrated 1995 film directed by Ang Lee.

The film follows Elinor and Marianne Dashwood through financial and romantic crisis. After their stepbrother inherits the family estate, Mrs. Dashwood moves her three daughters from Sussex to a humble cottage in Devon. The review notes the script by Diana Reid and direction by Georgia Oakley sharpen a narrative point: Mrs. Dashwood insists on moving west to avoid her daughter appearing to be a gold-digger.

Casting the central roles

Daisy Edgar-Jones plays the sensible Elinor, while Esmé Creed-Miles portrays the romantic Marianne. The Guardian states they do not resemble the sisters from the 1995 film, instead appearing like former university acquaintances now sharing a London flat. Elinor's love interest, the shy Edward Ferrars, is played by George MacKay.

Supporting characters and performances

The cad Mr. Willoughby is played with insidious charm by Frank Dillane. A significant casting choice discussed is Herbert Nordrum as Colonel Brandon. The review finds Nordrum, an actor known for Norwegian comedy-drama, to be an eccentric and stolid outlier in the role, with line-readings that seem unengaged.

In contrast, Fiona Shaw's performance as the gossipy Mrs. Jennings is highlighted as a scene-stealer. The review argues Shaw enlarges the role compared to its 1995 counterpart, bringing up the voltage whenever she appears. Another noted casting is Eliot Sumner, who gives an icy performance in the gender-challenging role of Mr. Palmer.

A changed tone and style

This adaptation deliberately avoids the sugar-rush finale of the earlier film, opting for a cooler, more austere mood. It unfolds in cloudier weather, both literally and metaphorically. The film's overall look and sound are described as perfectly good, though the review suggests some of the original novel's sensibility is lacking. The project's intention is framed as pushing against envelopes and stereotypes, resulting in a sober-minded next-generation do-over of the classic story.