Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This movie is based on a novella Jane Austen wrote while still young called "Lady Susan". The director of the film, Whit Stllman, wrote the screenplay (and also a novelization) and fleshed out Austen's short story. In my opinion he stayed very true to the source material, although I can't figure out why he changed the title from "Lady Susan" to "Love and Friendship" as Jane Austen also wrote a story by that title with wholly different plot and characters. At any rate, this film adaptation is lovely to look at and very fun to watch. The story is about a young widow who schemes to get her daughter married to a rather stupid, yet rich man, while she toys with the affections of her sister-in-law's brother (who will himself be wealthy one day) all the while wanting to be with another man who is married - although Lady Susan doesn't let that distress her much if at all. The characters are introduced by almost portrait-like shots, with a short caption giving their name and how they relate to the other characters. Lady Susan tries to stay a step ahead of everyone and steer events to the outcomes she wants using her wits and charm, and the help of her friend Alicia. The story isn't romantic, like we typically associate with Jane Austen's works. Lady Susan only uses romance as a way of getting what she wants, she's much more of an anti-heroine than a heroine. The supporting characters add much of the comedy to the film and are are well played by the actors. One thing I especially like is that important events in the plot occur when the characters receive letters. I think this is a nod to the fact that Austen's story was written in epistolary form. If you like period films and don't believe they have to be melodramatic to be good, check out "Love and Friendship". If you are a fan of Jane Austen you will be pleased that one of her lesser known works has been brought to life, and pretty faithfully too.