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The Jane Austen Book Club

Written by Nobuhiro Hosoki

 

"The Jane Austen Book Club," based on Karen Joy Fowler's bestselling novel, was directed by screenwriter Robin Swicord ("Little Women," "Memoirs of a Geisha"). Making her directorial debut with the right touch of femininity, Swicord crafts a contemporary setting amid the hustle-bustle of Sacramento, California where we encounter Bernadette (Kathy Baker), a  feisty middle age woman, Bernadette (Kathy Baker), a free spirit who has been married five times. At this point in her life, she is driven to conjure up the idea of gathering new and old friends to join her devoted Jane Austen Book Club.

The book club consists of six members and six novels, and each member is assigned to lead a discussion each month. These members are just as  fragile and sensitive as the characters in Jane Austen's books. At a funeral, a dog breeder named Jocelyn has just lost her beloved champion dog, the only creature she loved in her entire life--even more than humans. In high school, she and her long-time friend, Sylvia (Amy Brenneman), dated the same guy, Daniel (Jimmy Smith). Now Sylvia's husband, he informs her after 25 years of marriage that he needs a fresh relationship.

Since everybody assumed her relationship was solid, she is devastated, having been totally unaware of any discord. This situation is revealed by her daughter Allegra(Maggie Grace), who has moved in with her mmother for the time being as support.  She's openly lesbian, but for now she conceals her sexual orientation to her mother.

This attractive ensemble of actresses also includes Prudie (Emily Blunt), a lonely high school French teacher whose marriage to Dean (Marc Blucas) has hit rock bottom. He has just canceled their long-awaited trip to Paris due to business conflicts. The only male perspective here is offered by Grigg (Hugh Dancy) who tries to pick up Jocelyn at the hotel where they are both attending a convention. When she questions him about how he feels about older women, he assumes she's talking about herself when in fact she has her eye on him as a potential match  for Sylvia, even though Jocelyn also finds him intriguing.

Director Swidord skillfully renders the layers of female sorrow and frustration overcome with strong will and pleasure, staging this six- month narrative by cohesively focusing on an individual harmonious note that resonates with the essence of a Jane Austen book. Throughout, Emily Blunt captures our attention with her stellar performance, deliberately provocative in many aspects. Austen's timeless work does indeed transcend our spirits.

Written and directed by Robin Swicord
Based on the novel by Karen Joy Fowler
Director of photography: John Toon
Edited by Maryann Brandon
Music by Aaron Zigman
Production designer: Rusty Smith
Produced by John Calley, Julie Lynn and Diana Napper
Released by Sony Pictures Classics.
Running time: 105 minutes.

Cast: Kathy Baker (Bernadette)
Maria Bello (Jocelyn)
Emily Blunt (Prudie)
Amy Brenneman (Sylvia)
Hugh Dancy (Grigg)
Maggie Grace (Allegra)
Lynn Redgrave (Mama Sky)
Jimmy Smits (Daniel)
Marc Blucas (Dean)
Kevin Zegers (Trey)
Parisa Fitz-Henley (Corinne)
Gwendolyn Yeo (Dr. Samantha Yep),
and Nancy Travis (Cat).