If there’s one thing that the 2005 Pride and Prejudice theatrical re-release taught us, it’s that Jane Austen’s writing is still as popular as ever. With complex, deeply feeling heroines like Lizzie Bennet and dashingly romantic heroes like Mr. Darcy, how could we not be obsessed? But for Agathe Robinson, the main character of the soon-to-be-released film Jane Austen Wrecked My Life, that obsession may have long passed the quirky interest stage. Read on for a closer look at this brilliant French-English comedy, including a trailer drop and some preliminary reviews.
What to Expect From the Movie
Jane Austen Wrecked My Life is scriptwriter Laura Piani’s directorial debut. Originally premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024, this bilingual rom-com came to theaters in France in January 2025 and is set to premiere in America on May 23. This is the story of French bookseller and aspiring novelist Agathe, who, despite knowing Austen’s catalog by heart, can’t seem to find that same love in her real life. With her friend Felix’s support, Agathe is accepted into a Jane Austen writing residency in England. There, she meets Oliver Lowe, a distant relation on the Austen family tree who couldn’t be more different from Agathe’s idol. As she finally sets about to finish writing her novel, Agathe’s love life suddenly blooms brighter than ever before, but something about this unexpected romantic twist seems oddly familiar…
“I believe some books become a part of our life because they reveal to us our true nature.”
— Laura Piani, Jane Austen Wrecked My Life
Early reviews for the film are mostly positive; it currently holds a 94% critic favorability rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In Variety critic Peter Debruge’s review, he says that the film feels refreshingly nostalgic, harkening back to the rom-com golden age of the 1990s and early 2000s. Debruge also praises the casting, remarking how rare it is for movies today, especially French ones, to cast actresses who truly embody the “everyday woman.” Camille Rutherford plays Agathe with all of the wit and absolutely none of the grace of the traditional Austen heroine. In Rutherford’s performance, we see the awkward duck inside of us all, and our hearts beat right alongside hers as she chases after her long-coveted romantic ending.
Striking a Similar Chord
American audiences may recognize some of these story beats in another Austen-inspired rom-com, 2013’s Austenland. This movie, based on the Shannon Hale novel of the same name, follows Jane Austen superfan Jane Hayes, who books a trip to an immersive resort where guests get to live as Austen heroines, complete with full Regency costumes and itineraries. The glamor of this imaginary world quickly fades for Jane, and soon she learns that maybe the best experiences are the ones we have in reality.
“What separates the casual Jane Austen fan from the aficionado? Is it her admiration for the style and manners of the Regency era? The number of times she’s read Austen’s novels? Or her consuming love for Mr. Darcy?”
— Jerusha Hess and Shannon Hale, Austenland
Both Jane Austen Wrecked My Life and Austenland present the turmoil that comes from putting too much stock in fiction stories. Any bookworm, regardless of whether they’re a Jane Austen fan or not, can relate to the trap of putting real life on hold because it fails to live up to the fantasy hiding in their bookshelves. These movies and their relatable protagonists remind us that while we can absolutely enjoy these novels and characters, we shouldn’t be afraid to chase after excellence in our real lives, too.
While Austenland mostly focuses on Jane’s unlucky love life, Jane Austen Wrecked My Life adds in the exciting element of Agathe’s writing career, a love that proves to be far more elusive and rewarding than the brooding Mr. Darcy. Every writer can relate to Agathe’s perfectionist streak. If only we all had friends like Felix to help us find the right setting to complete our work!
What are you waiting for? Grab your bookish BFFs and head to a movie theater on May 23 to experience all the relatable angst and romantic possibility of Jane Austen Wrecked My Life.
For more stories based on Jane Austen’s novels, click here.
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