Whether you are drawn to period romances or prefer modern love stories, there is no denying that Jane Austen paved the way for what happy ever after looks like onscreen. From Pride & Prejudice to Emma, the author’s novels weren’t just about young women finding suitable marriages, they were about young women who didn’t just bend to societal expectations but wanted to find a true love match on their terms. Austen shaped a lot of the stories that we consume to this day, so it’s no surprise that there are several films dedicated to women looking to live out the romance she describes in her books.

Austenland, The Jane Austen Book Club, and the recently released Jane Austen Wrecked My Life all examine how the writer’s literary works redefined expectations of women when it comes to love. The latter follows Agathe (Camille Rutherford), a French bookseller who is unlucky in love and struggling to write her debut novel. After a breakthrough moment, she manages to write the first chapter of her book and is surprised to learn that she’s secured a spot at the Jane Austen Residency. As she faces her fears and heads to the British countryside, Agathe finally finds what she’s been looking for all along. If you haven’t seen this rom-com yet, here are some reasons to add it to your watch list.

7

The Film Draws Inspiration From Jane Austen

Agathe wants a love story like that in Austen’s novels.

The title might give this away, but Jane Austen is the beating heart of this film. The writer’s novels aren’t just loved by Agathe, they are practically a guide to the romance she’s always longed to find. One of the film’s earliest scenes features the main character talking to her co-worker Félix (Pablo Pauly) about how she feels like she was supposed to be born in a different century, because the apps and hook-up culture of the modern-day dating scene just don’t appeal to her.

Austen’s love stories are not only what she aspires to have in her own life, but they are also the blueprint for the work she wants to create as a writer herself. For Agathe, books aren’t always supposed to be political, and the books that drive her are the romances that many overlook. The main character isn’t afraid to profess her passion and reverence for Austen, even if some of the characters she interacts with don’t seem to understand Austen’s relevance.

6

It’s a Callback to Old-School Rom-Coms

The film uses the clichés we know and love effectively.

Although Jane Austen Wrecked My Life may use many tropes we’ve seen time and time again, its predictable formula will still win you over. Like in any old-school rom-com, Agathe goes on a trip to a place she never thought she would ever visit to pursue her writing aspirations. While arriving there, she’s escorted by a brooding British gentleman who is cynical about love and doesn’t even appreciate the works of his great-great ancestor, Jane Austen.

As you would anticipate, the two seem like polar opposites on paper, but their chemistry is palpable. Slowly but surely, they begin to look at each other through a different lens and see that, underneath the initial disdain, they are meant to be. Of course, the film weaves in a love triangle to disrupt the visible connection between Agathe and Oliver (Charlie Anson), but that doesn’t stop viewers from rooting for them.

5

There Is a Hugh Grant-Esque Love Interest

Charlie Anson’s mannerisms will remind you of Grant in ‘Sense and Sensibility.’

When you think about rom-coms’ most notable leading men, Hugh Grant is likely to be at the top of the list for his multiple contributions to the genre. Films like Bridget Jones’s Diary and Notting Hill double the appeal because of Grant’s innate ability to portray love interests that are charming, flirtatious, and sometimes a bit cocky. Charlie Anson is able to channel some of Grant’s mannerisms without ever feeling like his performance is a carbon copy of the well-known actor’s iconic roles.

That said, out of all the characters that the Love Actually alum has played, the closest in comparison to Oliver would be Edward Ferrars in Sense and Sensibility. Maybe it’s the fact that the film is filled with Jane Austen references that the Ang Lee adaptation comes to mind, but we see Oliver’s growing interest in Agathe play out similarly to Edward and Elinor’s (Emma Thompson) fated romance, and if you love the 1995 title as much as I do, you won’t complain about the parallels.

4

The Film Includes a Swoonworthy Dance Sequence

As part of her writing retreat, Agathe attends a ball.

Although this rom-com isn’t set in the regency era, it pays homage to Austen by including a thematic ball. At the place where Agathe is doing her writer’s residency, there is a tradition of hosting a ball with everyone in attendance wearing period costumes. When it’s finally time for the anticipated celebration, it really feels like the film goes from being a modern-day story to one set in the 18th century. The candle-lit room, the instrumental music, the English Country Dance. It all looks and feels straight out of an Austen adaptation to the screen.

Of course, the clumsy dancing here and there comes as a reminder that this isn’t an Austen adaptation, but rather a simulation to allow Agathe to experience some of the magic instilled in the pages of a novelist she adores. Her dance with Oliver has glimpses of 2005’s Pride & Prejudice, when Elizabeth (Keira Knightley) and Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen) dance at the ball Mr. Bingley (Simon Woods) hosts.

3

The British Countryside Is the Perfect Escapism

Agathe attends the Jane Austen Residency in a picturesque estate.

The backdrops in Jane Austen Wrecked My Life are practically characters in this story. From Agathe working at Shakespeare and Company, a popular antique bookstore in France, to her traveling to Southern England on a writer’s retreat at a gorgeous countryside estate, the locations set the tone for the story at hand. Seeing Agathe taking long walks in the garden, or sitting in a corner of the property with a book in hand, you will immediately feel the urge to escape to a similar place.

Due to a traumatic incident in her past, the protagonist is afraid of getting in a car, meaning she would’ve never imagined that she could get out of France. In order to attend the Jane Austen Residency, she musters the courage to hit the road and, upon arrival, she is immediately enamored by the British estate. Agathe really believes that her stay there will be the key to unlocking her writer’s block, because who wouldn’t feel inspired in an Austen-like setting?

2

It Cleverly Addresses Impostor Syndrome

The protagonist is a writer struggling to get past the first chapter of her book.

Talking about Agathe’s writer’s block, the film does tackle impostor syndrome in a relatable manner. By being accepted into this program, the main character doesn’t feel worthy of attending it because she hasn’t been able to make progress in her writing ventures. On top of working at a bookstore and being surrounded by literary works, Agathe’s biggest wish is to become an accomplished writer. She wrestles with the possibility of never being good enough to get published, which is something that anyone can connect with, regardless of their profession.

As she navigates the struggle to write beyond the first chapter of her novel, viewers can’t help but sympathize with her. The character is often pretending to write away in her notebook and her computer, when in reality there’s still a blank page staring back at her. The moment that she finally understands what she needs to do in order to move forward with her writing is cathartic in the best way.

1

You Don’t Have To Be an Avid Reader To Enjoy It

The film’s book references are easy to follow.

Jane Austen Wrecked My Life might be about a bookseller-turned-writer, but you don’t have to be knowledgeable about literature to appreciate it. At its core, the film is a story about love and self-discovery, with Agathe starting off as a woman who has forgotten what it is like to get out of her comfort zone. She entertains herself with novels that transport her to different worlds, but her hobby is, in a sense, restraining her from living her life to the fullest.

The moment she moves past her fears and goes to the writer’s residency, she allows herself to experience something new for the first time in a while and that changes her for the better. By enabling herself to meet other people with a similar passion for storytelling and getting to know Oliver, she finally realizes that she isn’t a lost cause. Cheesy as it may be, this rom-com comes as a reminder that, in order to fulfill our dreams, we need to take risks and accept that failure is part of the process of getting to where you want to be.

NEXT:10 Movies to Watch If You Love Jane Austen