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This is a movie review for the BBC film, Lost in Austen. The premise of this story is about a young woman who has an obsession with Jane Austin’s acclaimed novel, Pride and Prejudice. It shows the main character’s mundane life in present day London, and the only method she uses to unwind is by reading this same novel over and over again. She has fantasies about Mister Darcey and knows the Bennett sisters in and out.

Then one night, Elizabeth Bennett appears in her bathroom and explains that she has somehow found a door from the Bennett’s house that leads to her apartment. The girls decide to swap places for a while and we get to see our modern day protagonist experience the past along with the fiction that she could recite by heart. However, as the story progresses, the protagonist turns out to be changing the events of the story line by her mere presence. The more she tries to manipulate the characters into doing what they are supposed to do, the more the classic story veers off course.

This movie was light hearted and creative. The story gives its audience the comfort of characters that they know very well, and spins the plot into new twists that are funny and original. The quality of the acting was first rate (with a few exceptions), and I was impressed with the directing and editing. The crew of the film did a fantastic job of making the audience feel like they were watching a classic Austin movie while adding more modern humor. It also gave new insights to some if the characters, which I am sure Jane Austen never presented them in those lights. It was well done, though I’m sure this story stems from someone’s “fanfiction” version of Pride and Prejudice. (Note: To those who don’t know, “fanfiction” is an increasingly popular pastime of people rewriting their favorite stories, or just adding onto an already published story with new scenes and/or new characters.)

I do appreciate these kinds of films because I think they help people to relate better to the past. It helps us to see that, though their way of life was incredibly different, the people who lived in the past (albeit this is fictional past) were still very normal. They had dreams and ambitions and their everyday way of life was common and ordinary. For instance, the Bennett sister, Lydia, sees the protagonists modern makeup and is instantly intrigued in wearing it, just like any other normal teenage girl would. There are actually several other examples that I could use to make my point, but I fear that would ruin the movie if you haven’t seen it yet.

So, overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Lost in Austen. Even the more cheesy parts of the movie made me want to giggle. Though this is definitely marketed to women, my husband also loved this movie, much better than the Austen movies I have made him sit and watch with me. So go out and rent it, or buy it. I think you won’t regret it!

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