"Life Disrupted by Melancholic British Sentiments as Perceived by Individual: Jane Austen's Influence"
Jane Austen Wrecked My Life explores the life of Agathe, a literature enthusiast who finds herself drawn into the world of romance and literature. As an employee at Shakespeare & Co., the renowned Parisian bookstore dedicated to English literature, Agathe is an idealistic romantic, a confirmed bachelorette, and a novelist of romance in her spare time. Having been brought up with the belief that literature is "the last bastion against the disorder of the world," Agathe tends to live in the realm of fiction rather than the reality around her and dreams of romantic escapades akin to those seen in Pride and Prejudice.
During a visit to the Jane Austen Residency, a writers' retreat dedicated to the British novelist (1775-1817), Agathe finds herself immersed in the landscapes of her beloved books: a grand English manor enveloped by forests, adorned with floral tapestries, lace, and pre-Victorian frames. Breakfast is served in bed, balls are organized, and most importantly, she encounters Olivier (Charlie Anson, who bears a close resemblance to a young Hugh Grant), a man reminiscent of an Austen hero.
The setting is depicted with a rose-tinted lens, but the treatment manages to avoid clichés. Laura Piani infuses the film with a picturesque and melancholic atmosphere, bathed in a light reminiscent of 19th-century English paintings. The film's soundtrack is original, subtle, and nuanced, consisting of three motifs - piano, flute, and violin - that accentuate the film's emotional states with finesse.
Agathe, who has lost both parents, is portrayed as a disconnected individual. Piani skillfully conveys the sense of distance and dissociation that can occur during grief, lending emotional depth to the narrative. However, some critics argue that the film's storyline is relatively thin.
Camille Rutherford's performance, while consistent with the comedic approach to Agathe's clumsy and burlesque character, can sometimes become overly expressive and detract from the character's sincerity. Moreover, the numerous literary references, while delighting literature enthusiasts, may confuse some viewers.
Upon watching the film, one may find similarities with works such as Notting Hill, Bright Star, or Love Actually. Jane Austen Wrecked My Life suggests that fiction is a habitable, even preferable, place to reality.
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In the midst of Agathe's immersion in the romantic world of Jane Austen, she stumbles upon a modern-day Austen hero in the form of Olivier at the Jane Austen Residency. Despite the film's focus on Agathe's disconnection from reality, it shares parallels with popular movies-and-tv like Notting Hill, Bright Star, or Love Actually, suggesting that fiction can be an attractive alternative to everyday life. Simultaneously, culture plays a crucial role in the film's narrative, as literary references serve to enrich the story for some, but may leave others perplexed.
