Nicely produced but rather unimaginative look at a young Jane Austen feels more like a chapter taken from one of the writer´s novels.
Anne Hathaway – effective but never quite convincing – stars as the famous writer, 20 years old, who falls madly in love with Tom Lefroy (James McAvoy), a poor law student dependant on his rich uncle.
Of course, as in any Austen novel – or, as the film would like us to believe, her life – the romance was not meant to be; Austen´s mother (Julie Walters) wants her daughter to marry into wealth, and an apparent suitor has been found by wealthy Lady Gresham (Maggie Smith), whose dull nephew needs a wife.
Austen´s sympathetic father (James Cromwell), however, encourages Jane to seek what will make her happy.
Will she find true happiness?
Hopefully you know nothing about Ms. Austen´s personal life going in, lest the main thrust of the film be revealed to you before you enter the cinema.
Those looking for a effective biography of Ms. Austen will be sorely disappointed; fans of films based on her work (particularly the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice, which this strongly recalls) should be pleasantly satisfied.
Pales in comparison to the similarly-themed Miss Potter.
