Sense and Sensibility

After the death of the family patriarch, the Dashwood women are forced to leave their grand estate and move to a modest countryside home. The eldest, sensible and reserved Elinor, quietly falls in love with her sister-in-law’s brother, while her younger, spirited sister is swept up by a charming but reckless young man. Emma Thompson, in a dual role as lead actress and screenwriter, adapted Jane Austen’s first novel and, together with Ang Lee, created what many consider the finest cinematic interpretation of Austen. In his Hollywood debut, Lee brings classic British manners to life with vitality, humor, and emotional depth, crafting a period film that is humane, compassionate, and subtly ironic. Thirty years on, Sense and Sensibility remains a rare cinematic gem, blending wit, heartfelt emotion, and standout performances from Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, and Alan Rickman, its warmth and insight still resonating today.