Sense and Sensibility (2026)

Director Georgia Oakley’s stylish adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility (2026) breathes fresh, vibrant energy into a beloved literary masterpiece. Working from a sharp screenplay by Diana Reid, the film captures the fierce loyalty, subtle humor, and emotional turbulence of sisterhood, striking a delicate balance between period elegance and a contemporary, accessible sensibility.

The story follows the Dashwood sisters, whose lives are upended following the sudden loss of their family estate.  Forced to relocate to a modest cottage in Devonshire alongside their mother (Caitríona Balfe), sensible elder sister Elinor (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and impulsively romantic younger sister Marianne (Esmé Creed-Miles) must navigate the harsh financial realities and strict decorum of 19th-century English society. Despite their reduced circumstances, both women quickly find their hearts entangled in complex, unexpected ways.

Elinor quietly harbors deep feelings for the quiet, honorable Edward Ferrars (George MacKay), masking her heartbreak behind a wall of composure when propriety and secret engagements threaten to keep them apart. Conversely, Marianne throws caution to the wind, swept off her feet by the dashing, charismatic John Willoughby (Frank Dillane), while remaining blissfully blind to the steady, unyielding devotion of the older Colonel Brandon (Herbert Nordrum). As societal pressures and personal betrayals test both sisters, Elinor and Marianne are forced to discover that true happiness requires balancing the head with the heart.

Shot on luscious 35mm film across genuine historic estates in Dorset and Devon, the production radiates visual texture and lavish charm.  Daisy Edgar-Jones grounds the drama with a beautifully restrained performance, while Esmé Creed-Miles captures Marianne’s raw, romantic spirit with effortless grace. They are backed by a stellar supporting cast, including a deliciously mischievous turn by Fiona Shaw as the incorrigible gossip Mrs Jennings, alongside a rich, atmospheric score by Roger Goula.

Witty, romantic, and visually gorgeous, Sense and Sensibility is a delightful cinematic portrait of resilience and love. It promises our RCC audience a thoroughly engaging, heartwarming afternoon at the cinema that celebrates Austen's timeless genius in magnificent big-screen style.