I’ll admit that I have not watched many French films, but this 2024 rom-com written and directed by Laura Piani is now among my favorites. 

 

Every shot and scene is romantic, picturesque or otherwise charming and delightful. If you dream of visiting either Paris or the French or English countryside, you’ll love every frame. 

 

Beautifully shot in France, the story takes place part in France and part in England. Agathe, who has her own bookshop in Paris, is a romantic who hasn’t had a partner in two years. She longs to write her own love story - and become a writer - but she is stuck. We learn that she had a tragic car accident which could be partially why she seems to be caught in a rut.

 

Agathe sees herself as a “wilted flower” who has let her life pass her by. Thankfully, her sister and best friend, Felix, lovingly force her out of her rut and encourage Agathe to follow her dreams of becoming a writer. 

 

When she is invited to her dream writers’ workshop, the Jane Austen Residency, she almost doesn’t go because of her own imposter syndrome. She makes it there, but still cannot seem to write, even in the most idyllic and enchanting environment imaginable. 

 

A shared kiss with her best friend upon leaving home sets her mind whirling - could he be her Great Love? But she also has extremely Austen-esque chemistry with a mysterious man at the Residency. 

 

There are comedic moments here - Agatha throws up on Oliver’s shoes when she first meets him, walks in on him stark naked by accident, plus an older gentleman is seen consistently pantsless from behind - but the film is heavier on romance and drama than laughs. 

 

I loved listening to the original French while reading the English subtitles to fill in any blanks my Duolingo lessons haven’t yet taught me. I also adored the pops of red throughout every shot and scene to signify Agathe’s longing for passion and romance. 

 

As a former English major, there are some wonderful discussions of literature that thrilled me, with memorable lines like “Literature is an ambulance speeding through the night to save someone” and “Writing is like ivy - it needs ruins to thrive” and “Literature is the only remedy for thoughts and feelings.”

 

Will Agathe find her one true love, and will she conquer her writers’ block to become a real author like her hero Jane Austen? You’ll have to watch to find out.

 

Jane Austen Wrecked My Life will be enjoyed by those who love literature, fans of French culture and romantics at heart.