Jane Austen Wrecked My Life Parent Guide

Despite living in Paris, a.k.a. the world’s most romantic city, Agathe (Camille Rutherford) is in a rut. She works in an English language bookstore with her platonic BFF, Félix (Pablo Pauly) and lives with her sister and young nephew (played by Alice Butaud and Roman Angel). In her spare time, Agathe takes writing classes and churns out “cheap romances” while starting serious novels she can’t finish. Then she receives an unexpected invitation..

Intrigued by her latest novel, Félix submitted an application on Agathe’s behalf to a Jane Austen writing residency in England. Agathe has been accepted, and after some encouragement from her friends and family, she finally agrees to attend.

Everything looks promising for a blocked writer who needs a boost. The English country home is beautiful, the food plentiful, and the woman in charge, Beth (Liz Crowther), is gracious and encouraging. Her aging husband, Todd (Alan Fairbairn) might be in the early stages of dementia and has a habit of wandering around without pants, but he’s also kind. On the other hand, their son, Oliver (Charlie Anson) is brusque and dismissive, albeit broodingly handsome. Soon, Agathe’s dislike thaws into a much warmer emotion. There’s just one catch: before leaving France, she and Félix kjssed, and Félix has been rethinking their relationship.

Jane Austen fans looking for a twist on one of her novels won’t find it here. This isn’t a quirky adaptation of Pride and Prejudice or Persuasion. Yes, there’s a romantic triangle, and yes, Agathe must make a choice. But this is less Darcy vs Wickham and more Darcy vs Bingley. There’s no villain, no seduction, no scandal. Agathe is wounded, blocked, and confused, but her problems come from within and aren’t caused by the men in her life. While there are funny moments here, this is no Regency comedy of manners or ironic dissection of social injustice.

This film also differs from Austen’s work in its negative content, which was as unexpected as it was unwelcome. In addition to a serving of sexual expletives, the movie features frequent alcohol consumption, including a scene of intoxication. A woman’s breasts are visible as she prepares to bathe and there is a sex scene involving plenty of panting and discussion, although no explicit nudity. Weirdly enough, there’s also a moment where a family watches a documentary that shows lions having sex and discusses how painful it is for the lioness. Creepy and unnecessary.

If you’re able to disconnect this movie from the Jane Austen universe and judge it on its own merits, it’s…ok. The chemistry between Agathe and Oliver is intense without getting graphic and Agathe is likeable despite her misjudgments. Unfortunately, the movie feels a bit thin. I rarely say this, but I think it should have been 15 or 20 minutes longer: the extra time would make space to flesh out the other writers at the residence program and would give Agathe and Oliver more time together. After all, it’s a truth universally acknowledged that a romance always needs more heart.