JANE AUSTEN WRECKED MY LIFE

France, 2024, 95 minutes, Colour.

Camille Rutherford, Pablo Pauly, Charlie Anson, Annabelle Lengron, Liz Crowther, Alan Fairbairn, Frederick Wiseman.

Directed by Laura Piani.

2025 sees the 250^th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen. She was very much part of British life in the 18^th century but she was also an extraordinary pioneer in the development of the English novel in the 19^th century, leading the way to Thackeray, Dickens, the Bronte Sisters, George Eliot… And she continues to be very popular.

In her speech accepting her Oscar for writing the screenplay for Sense and Sensibility, Emma Thompson said that she went to Jane Austen’s grave to discuss the box office. Indeed, Jane Austen is still top box office, the many adaptations for screen and television of her novels, and films about her, about book clubs for Jane Austen readers, adaptations of her stories and updating them.

What if a French writer and director, Laura Piani, decided to pay tribute to Jane Austen by creating a character, Agathe, Camille Rutherford, a French novel writer, writing in English, manager of a bookshop, sad and withdrawn after a family tragedy, early chapters of a manuscript entered for a grant to go to a Jane Austen writing retreat in England? Would Jane Austen wreck her life?

Does the popularity of Jane Austen’s novels, especially her heroines, mean that many women readers and moviegoers can identify with these characters? What about Emma and her being busy and plotting people’s lives? What about Elizabeth Bennett and her prejudice against proud Mr Darcy? Or Persuasions’ Anne Eliot, growing older, not married? In fact, our writer, Agathe, says explicitly that she identifies with Anne Eliot. (The screenplay does have references to characters in Mansfield Park, Sense and Sensibility, and to Mr Darcy.)

The writing residence takes place at a British country mansion, managed by descendants of Jane Austen herself. The hostess is most welcoming. Her elderly husband is eccentric, to say the least, some incipient dementia. However, their English lecturer son, Oliver, Charlie Anson is an obvious Mr Darcy. Which means that a lot of the time during the fortnight is not spent in writing but in interactions of prejudice. And there are some other writers present who have some problems of their own which Agathe has to listen to as well as take advice.

While the issues are serious, they are treated with a rather light touch. However, Oliver is definitely not a character who has a light touch. He looks severe. He speaks severely. He obviously represents the Darcy-pride but, one would need sound advice from a female audience as to whether he is in any way attractive. In fact, he contrasts rather severely with Agathe’s best friend, Felix, Pablo Pauly, her confidante who also runs the bookshop with her. He is full of life, full of mischief, engaging, good company.

So, a light, somewhat slight venturing into the Jane Austen tradition. Maybe Jane Austen wrecked Agathe’s life for a short time but, on paper at least with Oliver, there is a Jane Austen ending.

1. For Jane Austen’s 250^th anniversary? The popularity of Jane Austen’s novels, of her influence on English literature, of her own personal life? The many film versions of her novels? The many contemporary adaptations? Variations on her themes?
2. The title and expectations? Agathe and her life, her story, her Jane Austen kind of life?
3. A French film, cast? The locations? The British cast? French admiration for Jane Austen?
4. Agathe’s story, as a writer, her success, managing the bookshop, advice to customers, her relationship with Felix and the running of the shop? The sad story of the accident and the deaths, the repercussions, her fear of travelling, cars? The relationship with her sister, and her nephew? Her writing and sending material to publishers? The line of her life, her comparison with Anne in Persuasion?
5. Felix, friendship, love for Agathe, cheery? Teasing her? Sending her manuscript to the Jane Austen residency house? Her being accepted? Reluctant to go? Her motivations for not going? Felix pushing, driving her, the ferry to England?
6. Arriving in England, meeting Oliver, his dour personality, the relationship of family to Jane Austen herself, the house, the residency? The car breaking down, the clash between Agathe and Oliver, the cold, spending the night, getting the lift?
7. Beth and the welcome to the residency, Todd, the touches of dementia, his behaviour, erratic, naked, but jovial? The contrast with Oliver, his career, lecturer, literature, broken relationships? The parallel with Mr Darcy? His pride? Agathe’s prejudice? The interactions between them, going out, the local pub, the breaking down of the prejudice? (Convincing to the audience on not?), The discussions, touches of intimacy?
8. The residency, the opportunity to write, Agathe not writing, contemplating? The piano? The other members, the writer and her snobbery, pontificating, irritating Agathe, her troubles and Agathe comforting her, a bond? Cheryl, the discussions, friendship, breaking down the barrier with Oliver? The other members in the background, the writing, presentations of their writing?
9. Agathe not writing, pretending? Coping with her life? The arrival of Felix, cheering her up, his friendliness? Hopes? The precipitation of the relationship with Oliver?
10. Agathe, the result of the residency, her life momentarily wrecked, but reconstructed, family, Felix and friendship in the shop, her writing, and the relationship with Oliver?