Sense and Sensibility (1995)
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The story
Following the death of Henry Dashwood, his wife and three daughters—Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret—are left with a meager inheritance. As members of a wealthy family of landed gentry, the sisters find themselves in a state of sudden destitution. To secure their future, they must navigate the social expectations of the era and seek financial security through marriage. The narrative follows the two eldest sisters, Elinor and Marianne, as they deal with their different personalities and the various suitors available to them, including the steady Colonel Brandon and the dashing John Willoughby, while facing the complications of their new, impoverished circumstances.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After Henry Dashwood dies, his wife and daughters are left with only £500 a year, while the bulk of the estate goes to his son from a previous marriage. The sisters move to a cottage in Devonshire. Marianne falls for the dashing John Willoughby, who eventually abandons her for a wealthy woman, while she is also pursued by the steady Colonel Brandon. Elinor develops a secret, long-term engagement with Edward Ferrars, but the arrangement is complicated by the arrival of the unscrupulous Lucy Steele. After a series of complications involving secret engagements and financial revelations, it is revealed that Edward is free to marry Elinor, and Marianne eventually accepts the proposal of Colonel Brandon. The film explores the contrast between Elinor's 'sense' and Marianne's 'sensibility' as they navigate their paths to marriage and security.
- First release year
- 1995
- Runtime (minutes)
- 136
- Production countries
- United States; United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Ang Lee
- Writers
- Emma Thompson · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Emma Thompson · Elinor Dashwood; Alan Rickman · Colonel Brandon; Kate Winslet · Marianne Dashwood; Hugh Grant · Edward Ferrars
- Genres
- period drama; romance
- Themes
- class; gender; marriage
- Tone and mood
- romantic; period; poignant
- Premise and plot tags
- period piece; romance; literary adaptation
- Source material / true-story basis
- Jane Austen's 1811 novel Sense and Sensibility
- Reception
- The film received widespread critical acclaim and was a commercial success, earning $135 million worldwide.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 97% · scale: percentage · review count: 139; Metacritic · score: 84 · scale: 100 · review count: 21
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Bear · Berlin International Film Festival · win
- Production trivia
- The film's costumes were designed to highlight the class and status of the characters.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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This film adapts Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. Check the adaptation reference.
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