News from Sundance, via ScreenDaily, Curzon Artificial Eye has acquired the UK rights to Whit Stillman’s new Irish co-produced drama, Love & Friendship.
The film is based on Stillman’s adaptation of the Jane Austen novella Lady Susan, and sees Stillman reteam with actresses Kate Beckinsale and Chloe Sevigny. Xavier Samuel, Stephen Fry, Emma Greenwell, Jemma Redgrave, James Fleet, and Morfydd Clark also star in the period drama.
The novella on which the film is based is an early complete work that Austen never submitted for publication, that describes the schemes of the main character, the widowed Lady Susan, as she seeks a new husband for herself and one for her daughter.
Filming took place in Ireland in February and March of last year, with Katie Holly and Kieron J. Walsh of Blinder Films onboard as producers. Love & Friendship is a Westerly Films production in association with Blinder Films, Chic Films, Revolver Films, the Irish Film Board, Arte and the Netherlands Film Fund.
Protagonist Pictures brokered the deal. Amazon Studios purchased the US rights to the film last year.
[quote title=”Louisa Dent – Curzon Artificial Eye, Managing Director”]Love & Friendship is a cinematic treat full of wit, charm and plenty of laugh out loud moments. Whit has delivered something that will delight fans of Jane Austen and his own, sure to be growing, fanbase.[/quote]