They say forewarned is forearmed. But however many bad stories Reginald De Courcy (Xavier Samuel) has heard about Lady Susan Vernon (Kate Beckinsale), as soon as she moves in as a guest with his sister and brother-in-law, he falls irredeemably for her charms. His sister Catherine has to look on resignedly as Reginald is taken in by the much older widow, who is well known for her manipulative and adulterous behaviour. A free adaptation of Jane Austen’s novella Lady Susan, Love & Friendship is a cheerfully venomous satire from American auteur Whit Stillman. A witty pleasure from first to last, the film’s real ace in the hole is Tom Bennett as a cheerfully oafish aristocrat.
Tune-in to our May film podcast for Andy Willis and Jason Wood’s take on Love & Friendship (starts at 8mins in)