Love & Friendship (2016)

Lady Susan Vernon takes up temporary residence at her in-laws' estate and, while there, is determined to be a matchmaker for her daughter Frederica -- and herself too, naturally.

Director:

Whit Stillman

Writers:

Whit Stillman, Jane Austen (based on her novella "Lady Susan")

Stars:

Kate Beckinsale, Chloë Sevigny, Xavier Samuel

7 wins & 51 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kate Beckinsale	...	Lady Susan Vernon
Morfydd Clark	...	Frederica Vernon
Tom Bennett	...	Sir James Martin
Jenn Murray	...	Lady Lucy Manwaring
Lochlann O'Mearáin	...	Lord Manwaring (as Lochlann O'Mearain)
Sophie Radermacher	...	Miss Maria Manwaring
Chloë Sevigny	...	Alicia Johnson
Stephen Fry	...	Mr. Johnson
Jordan Waller	...	Edward, Head Footman (as Jordan S. Waller)
Ross Mac Mahon	...	Owen
Frank Prendergast	...	Approaching Gentleman
Xavier Samuel	...	Reginald DeCourcy
Emma Greenwell	...	Catherine DeCourcy Vernon
Justin Edwards	...	Charles Vernon
Kelly Campbell	...	Mrs. Cross

Storyline

Set in the 1790s, Love and Friendship centers on beautiful widow Lady Susan Vernon, who has come to the estate of her in-laws to wait out colorful rumors about her dalliances circulating through polite society. Whilst there, she decides to secure a husband for herself and her rather reluctant debutante daughter, Frederica.

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Plot Keywords:

1790s | friendship | 18th century | period piece | costume drama | 

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Taglines:

Based on Jane Austen's comic gem

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some thematic elements

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook (US) Official Facebook [UK]

Country:

Ireland France Netherlands

Language:

English French

Release Date:

3 June 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

Lady Susan

Filming Locations:

38 North Great George's Street, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$133,513, 15 May 2016, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$14,013,564, 16 September 2016

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$13,848,959, 4 August 2016

Company Credits

Production Co:

Westerly Films,Blinder Films,Centre National de la Cinématographie et de l'Image Animée

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film received funding from Arte, the Irish Film Board and the Netherlands Film Fund.

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Goofs

At one point, one of the female characters complains that her husband is "not old enough to die soon", thereby letting her become a wealthy widow. However, her husband in the film is quite old for the time, appearing to be in his 60's. The average life expectancy in the period of 1750-1800 was only 35 years old. The wealthy lived longer, of course, but one was still not expected to live past 50 years of age at the time.

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Quotes

Lady Susan Vernon: Americans really have shown themselves to be a nation of ingrates, only by having children can we begin to understand such dynamic.

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Crazy Credits

At the conclusion of the end credits, there is a line encouraging viewers to read the novel, "in which Lady Susan Vernon is thoroughly vindicated."

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Connections

Featured in Behind the Scenes of Love & Friendship (2016)

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Soundtracks

Arietta
[Invitation to Tea. Letter from Frederica]
Composed by Mark Suozzo
Performed by Dianne Marshall; Archie Chen;William Butt; Paul Woodiel
(P) 2016 Sony Classical

User Reviews

Weakly done

Here's my beef with Love and Friendship. They told the story. Emphasis on told. Not sure if they didn't know how to build the character backgrounds and cultural implications into an hour and a half-ish flick or what. It's like they assumed you understood some things but, needed to explain the bulk of the story via Lady Susan. Instead of building the story via scenes and acting and playing out the idea and letting the audience think and work out the connections....leave a little to figure out if you got it right or not, Beckinsale's character basically narrarated everything that was going on. As we walked out, I said to my wife, Downton Abbey left a pretty high bar for period pieces. The Jane Austin story of relationships and status and morality was interesting enough. The presentation just plain left it all in the book. You read a book, and you know you're reading a book. Director Stillman just had the book read to us by actors. It wasn't as interesting as that may sound either. I don't know if it was budget over directing but, this was a disappointing movie-fication of a book. Even the period environment was stumbling and stiff. Oh yeah, a hand maiden should do this. Oh yeah, the footman or, doorman or butler would do this. It came across as a poorly staged amateur play, where there was no fluidity. Other reviews said you'd be laughing out loud. Maybe a few snickers and giggles. I was glad it was only 90-ish minutes. If you're coming to this because Downton Abbey made you a fan of that period of England, I'm sorry to tell you, you won't be satisfied by Love and Friendship.