Sense and Sensibility hailed as "a delight" in rave first reactions ahead of release

While television series Pride and Prejudice is coming to Netflix later this year, we have a big screen adaptation of Jane Austen's work coming even sooner as Sense and Sensibility is released in the UK next week.

The film is based on the author's classic 1811 novel of the same name, with the story following the Dashwood family as they move from a lavish estate to a modest cottage in a small village. Once there, a couple of the sisters soon find love.

Directed by Georgia Oakley from a screenplay by Diana Reid, the stacked cast for the period drama includes Daisy Edgar-Jones, Fiona Shaw, Esmé Creed-Miles, Caitríona Balfe, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, Frank Dillane and George MacKay.

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Ahead of its theatrical release in the coming weeks, Sense and Sensibility has just had its world premiere in London's Leicester Square on Tuesday (15 September), and it looks to have been a hit with critics if the first reviews are anything to go by.

"Always a sucker for a Jane Austen adaptation. Loved the chemistry between Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esmé Creed-Miles. Caitríona Balfe is wonderful. Diana Reid's script injects a lot of wit. It's a delight," wrote Jazz Tangcay of Variety on X.

"Ooh #SenseandSensibility will THRILL the Austen purists. Simultaneously gorgeously faithful to the spirit (& letter) of the text, while coming across as totally fresh for today. The sisterly bond is sublime, Fiona Shaw steals every scene & the men are a really pleasant surprise," wrote Tori Brazier of Metro.

Another X user was also full of praise, saying: "Tonight's screening was the world premiere of Sense and Sensibility! Certainly made me laugh and cry with great performances from the cast!"

Lyvie Scott of Inverse also commended the period drama, noting: "My hopes for #SenseandSensibility were (unfairly?) high, but Georgia Oakley crafts a world I've been yearning to revisit for weeks."

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"So breathlessly bohemian and achingly sweet; every beat from the book gets its due. also get ready to fall in love w[ith] George MacKay bc wow. killer," they added, while Casey Loving of TheWrap said the film was "for the yearners".

"Georgia Oakley and writer Diana Reid stay true to Jane Austen's wonderful text (w/ some key changes) in a quiet film that totally charmed the romantic in me. Daisy Edgar-Jones & George MacKay are great, and Esmé Creed-Miles is astounding," he added.

Sense and Sensibility is released in the UK on 25 September, before heading to the US on 16 October.

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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media.  His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.