'Saucy' period drama with 'luminous' A-lister now streaming on Amazon Prime

Daily Record

2 days ago

Kate Beckinsale-led romantic comedy period piece Love and Friendship is currently streaming on Amazon Prime and was a huge hit with critics, although audiences were more divided
Whit Stillman's Love and Friendship is a true hidden treasure. Boasting a 96 per cent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this 2016 period drama is a highlight of the romantic comedy genre.
The screenplay, also crafted by Stillman, is an adaptation of Jane Austen's epistolary novel Lady Susan, written around 1794 but not published until 1871. Despite being based on the Lady Susan novella, the film borrows its title from Austen's earlier work, Love and Freindship (sic).
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Set against the backdrop of 18th-century England, Love and Friendship revolves around the recently widowed and financially strapped Lady Susan Vernon as she manoeuvres her way up the social ladder by securing affluent husbands for both herself and her daughter, Fredrica.
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Kate Beckinsale delivers a daring performance as Austen's unconventional heroine, with Morfydd Clark providing solid support in the role of Fredrica. The impressive supporting cast includes Chloë Sevigny, Xavier Samuel, Stephen Fry, Emma Greenwell, James Fleet, and Jemma Redgrave.
Currently available on Amazon Prime Video, Love and Friendship made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival in 2016 before hitting cinemas a few months later in May. The film was financed by Arte, the Netherlands Film Fund, and the Irish Film Board, raking in more than $19 million at the global box-office against a production budget of roughly $3 million, reports the Mirror US.
Love and Friendship was met with unanimous acclaim from critics, with comments such as: "This is the zingiest Austen adaptation you'll ever see, with the usual pastel palette and slow decorum abandoned in favour of acid colours and acid remarks, which keep the audience in stitches."
Another reviewer said: "Love and Friendship is an unexpected delight, a very dry and tremendously witty adaptation of a little known Jane Austen novella."
A third said: "Love and Friendship is quick, clever and delightful, very funny and hugely entertaining," and another wrote: "This smart and saucy film is based on one of Austen's early stories, which wasn't actually published until after her death."
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Another reviewer said: "Austen did like to have fun with her characters to show the stranger sides we all have. Watching this classy adaptation of one of her lesser-known works will remind you of that, and make you laugh."
Kate Beckinsale's acting was applauded as well, with a viewer saying: "That the luminous Beckinsale is our corseted anti-heroine helps immensely."
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In a 2016 interview with The Stanford Daily, Kate discussed her character, stating: "I'm very drawn to characters like Lady Susan. On paper, they're written as difficult, diabolical, or tricky.
"Then, as an actor, you must make them very charming. And you have to find the balance between the two. I really liked that in this, in Last Days of Disco, in Cold Comfort Farm, and Emma. It's a really fine tightrope to walk. Whit seems to be the king of these types."
However, contrary to the critics' reviews, the film received a modest 59 per cent audience approval rating. One viewer said: "Disappointing as it was a dull and dreary old English story-line that didn't amount to much plus it wasn't the least bit funny for a comedy. Kate Beckinsdale is the only character that made it somewhat bearable."
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Another audience member found the movie underwhelming, commenting: "Boring. Nothing really happens".
However, some viewers thoroughly enjoyed the film. One enthusiastic fan wrote: "This movie was utterly delightful. I laughed the whole way through at the dry wit which permeated the movie, and I loved the ending. 10/10 for me, I have my new favourite movie."
A fellow admirer of the film wrote: "Witty, fun and delightful. Spot on performances by accomplished actors, beautiful settings, gorgeous period dress. If you want a fun escape from the current dreary state of world affairs, you'll enjoy this one. Improves after each viewing."
One fan succinctly described it as: "Fun, engaging, beautifully acted - and very Austenesque."