Based on Jane Austen’s unpublished early novella “Lady Susan,” the film “Love & Friendship” focuses on the beautiful but devious widow, Lady Susan Vernon (Kate Beckinsale). Set in eighteenth century English society, Lady Vernon invites herself to take up temporary residence at her in-laws’ estate while waiting for social chatter to die down about a personal indiscretion. Lady Vernon has an unsavory reputation, but she is intelligent, calculating and shrewd as she sets her sights on charming young Reginald DeCourcy (Xavier Samuel). The flirtatious woman can’t seem to make time for her daughter – though she spins a different tale to the reasons. But her matchmaking skills eventually come in handy for both herself and her daughter.
The film also co-stars Chloe Sevigny as Lady Vernon’s American friend Alicia, who must visit with Lady Vernon in secret since her husband forbids their meeting. “Love & Friendship” is adapted and directed by Whit Stillman, who formerly directed Kate Beckinsale and Chloe Sevigny in “The Last Days of Disco” in the late ‘90s.
Amazon Studios bought domestic rights to “Love & Friendship” before the film’s Sundance debut. They've brought in Roadside Attractions as the film’s theatrical distributor. The movie will debut in theaters before hitting Amazon’s streaming platform.
SpoilerTV’s Tonya Papanikolas got a chance to interview the cast of the film at the Sundance Film Festival, along with the director. Check out her interviews with Kate Beckinsale, Chloe Sevigny, Whit Stillman and Emma Greenwell in the montage video below.
