Like many of you, I’m a big Jane Austen fan, so I’m excited to see Love & Friendship when it opens in theaters on Friday. It’s already getting great reviews.
Adapted from Lady Susan, one of Austen’s lesser-known novellas, the story takes place in the ’90s — the 1790s. Young widow Lady Susan Vernon (Kate Beckinsale) has come to Churchill, her in-laws’ estate, to wait out the rumors circulating about her, ahem, dalliances.
While there, she attempts to secure a husband for herself and a father for her daughter, Frederica, played by Morfydd Clark.
The movie — considered a comic gem and described as Downton Abbey with laughs — is directed by Whit Stillman, and reunites Beckinsale with Chloë Sevigny, who co-starred with her in Stillman’s The Last Days of Disco. Sevigny plays Lady Susan’s friend and confidante Alicia Johnson, with Stephen Fry starring as her husband, the “very Respectable” Mr. Johnson.
Adding to the drama are an eclectic cast of characters including handsome, eligible bachelor Reginald DeCourcy (Xavier Samuel) and silly but cheerful — and very rich — Sir James Martin (Tom Bennett). There’s also a jealous rival in the form of Lady Lucy Manwaring (Jenn Murray) who shakes things up with a shocking revelation.
To celebrate the release of the movie, Roadside Attractions is offering one Midlife at the Oasis subscriber a special Love & Friendship prize package, including a $50 Amazon gift card, a t-shirt, a bookmark and a copy of the book, Love & Friendship: In Which Jane Austen’s Lady Susan Vernon Is Entirely Vindicated by Whit Stillman.
For a chance to win, you must be a subscriber to my weekly newsletter. If you’re not a subscriber, first sign up in the right sidebar of this page. Then, simply leave a comment below. For a second chance, Tweet this:
[Tweet “Win a #LoveandFriendshipMovie prize package including a $50 #Amazon gift card! #giveaway #movies”]
Contest ends on May 22 at midnight Pacific time. Winner will be notified by return email. Prize can only be sent to a U.S. mailing address.
Follow Love & Friendship on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and watch the trailer to get ready for the movie!
Subscribed! Thanks!
Love, love, love this!!! Cannot wait till Friday either!
This is fabulous Lois! Tweeted too!
What fun! Tweeted as well!
Hope I win but I’m going to see it even if I don’t. Can’t wait!!
Subscribed to Midlife at the Oasis by email.
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/cherylfahling/status/730247552143114240
subscribed: jslbrown2009 at aol dot com
thanks for the chance
tweeted-https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/730324249424977920
I am a subscriber!
I am an email subscriber
jewelwood55(at)gmail(dot)com
tweeted-https://twitter.com/JewelWood/status/730388426067845120
I am a subscriber.
tweet https://twitter.com/kraftmaking/status/730392522791358464
I subscribe to your emails
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/730422276185804800
I’m a subscriber – this looks fabulous!
I have really been missing Downton Abbey. I am looking forward to seeing this one! I already subscribe and I followed the movies sites. Thank you!
This movie looks so fun! Subscribed, tweeted, etc…
This looks so good. I am adding it to my must watch list. Thank you for always introducing me to amazing things like books, movies and travel.
Subscribed & Tweeted! I would love this movie! Can’t wait to see it!
I signed up thanks!
I am really looking forward this moving coming out. I hope it is as good as the reviews say it is.
Here’s hoping it’s me!
Already subscribe, and tweeted under @RamblinGarden – a nice giveaway; thank you.
Subscribed and Tweeted
I love Jane Austen! Can’t wait for this movie!
I love those actresses. It will be great seeing them in this movie. I love the prize package!
Cannot WAIT for this movie, I didn’t even know about it, and I adore Jane Austen! Sounds like a perfect girlfriend days out kinda movie!
This sounds fab! I can’t wait to see it. I tweeted too!
already an email subscriber
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/730582223880114180
this looks like it’s going to be a great movie to go & seei!
it looks like a lovely mother and daughter movie – I’ll have to see if my girl feels like coming with me – good luck to the winner – I’m a bit jealous but out of the running in Australia!
Leanne, too bad! But yes, a lovely mother daughter movie!
I am a subscriber.
I am an e-mail subscriber.
I also shared the giveaway on Twitter: https://twitter.com/seabattle2/status/730810886881869824
Subscribed and tweeted. https://twitter.com/mitadav/status/730812058887962624
I’m a subscriber with same email.
https://mobile.twitter.com/dawnmonroe83/status/730821318543855617
Looking forward to this!
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
tweet–https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/730871455639031809
I am a newsletter subscriber.
tweet
https://twitter.com/Kellydpa/status/730886641016033282
i subscribed
current email subscriber – groogruxking40 @ gmail dot com
I am a subscriber.
Love these kinds of movies.. thank you for the chance to win!
I tweeted here https://twitter.com/joti67/status/730904384876466176
I tweeted-
https://twitter.com/groogruxking40/status/730904379885158400
I am a subscriber.
https://mobile.twitter.com/arress83/status/730940078227329024
I subscribed to your newsletter.
Tweet:
https://twitter.com/Janetfaye/status/731266234931658753
I subscribed. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
Tweet – https://twitter.com/littlebird_xo/status/731754978063212545
I’m a subscriber.
I am a subscriber and I tweeted
Definitely a movie for my teenage daughter and I. Her sense of fashion and my sense of coolness
Subscriber and tweeted
https://twitter.com/allisonvano/status/732661140082286596
i think its going to be a good movie and im a subscriber and tweeted
I’m In!! Tweeted, subscribed, adoring fan!! Love all you do, thank you! And I enjoy Downton Abbey, Kate Beckinsdale, and the costumes look gorgeous. Can’t wait xo
This is my kind of movie
Looks like a movie that I’ll really enjoy!
Oh, this movie sounds like so much fun! Thanks for the opportunity, Lois!
Looks like a fun movie
Have been a subscriber for all time!!even before you began this adventure in your own! So great of you and your creative inspirations! Nthanks so vetted much. Kay
Love and friendship . . . probably the two most important things in life. I’m single and have only an older brother left in my family, so friendship is sooo important to me.
subscribed and tweeted
Thanks for the chance to win.
I think the Universe left a comment because it took forever to scroll down to here! I love, love, love Jane Austen and DA? Well, you know how I feel. If I don’t win I’m still going to see it. Probably many times over. Right up my alley. Right what I need now! Thanks for the great review.
I am a subscriber. It would be wonderful to have this Love & Friendship prize package and I would share with my daughter.
Tweet
https://twitter.com/macdrap50/status/732685527649026049
Looks like a great movie!
I can’t wait to see this! It would be a hoot to win. I was just thinking, where are my emails from Lois. Glad I subscribe because you know I love to follow your travels and read your recommendations!
This is one of those must see movies. I tweeted also.
Thank you for the chance !
I am a subscriber! This movie looks really good.
I’ve never read this Jane Austen book. I would love to!
I subscribe and tweeted. Thanks for the opportunity to win .
As a big Jane Austen fan who’s never read Lady Susan, I can’t wait to see this movie!
I’ve never heard of the Lady Susan book, but I can’t wait to see the movie! Thanks for all you do, Lois!
Thank you for the opportunity I subscribed!
Sounds great!!!
I love period pieces! Looking forward to this one.
We get to see very few movies, but Love & Friendship is one that I would Really like to see! (and I’m a subscriber!)
Sounds like a wonderful prize!!
The movie looks like a lot of fun!
I’m a subscriber and I tweeted about the contest!?
I am a subscriber and I tweeted.
I so want to see this movie! I am already subscribed to your newsletter. 🙂
I subscribed
Good luck, everyone!
email subscriber. This looks like a good movie.
cshell090869 at aol dot com
tweeted https://twitter.com/cshell202/status/733090614997192706
cshell090869 at aol dot com
I can’t wait to watch this movie.
This is gonna be great! It’s been too long since we’ve had a really worthy Austen flick.
Loved the trailer for this movie, am a email subscriber
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/733122510401773570
Looking forward to this movie!
I’m an e-mail subscriber.
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/tlawoodall/status/733131804853567488
I’ll be watching!
Subscribed (butterflyrouge at yahoo dot com) and tweeted (https://twitter.com/butterflyrouge/status/733153017067802625)
Wishing this movie would open near my town!
Love this!
To me in life nothing is more important than Love and Friendship so I am very excited to see this amazing film. I am already a subscriber, and tweeted too! Thank you for the chance to enter.
This sounds amazing!
I subscribe via email to this box: annazed10 (at) yahoo (dot) com
I posted a tweet too: https://twitter.com/AnnaZed/status/733552731785285632
subscribed – would love to see this movie.
tweeted
https://twitter.com/DEBIJOT/status/733616031936155648
Im an email subscriber and tweeted. This movie looks so good!
im a newsletter subscriber pokergrl8 at gmail.com
tweet
https://twitter.com/aes529/status/733991337159184384
https://twitter.com/QueenB_Tammy/status/734022312886960128
Subscriber
Tweeted
https://mobile.twitter.com/hofken/status/734536124920664065
I am a subscriber to your email as rounder9834 @yahoo.com
tweeted
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/734563217855418368
I have seen the previews and love this movie already!
I’m in! Thanks!!
Thanks for the chance!
Sounds very bitchy.
So looking forward to this movie! Thanks for the opportunity, Lois! 🙂
Subscribed to this website. Looks fun and interesting to follow. I’m looking forward to this movie, would love to win the contest (smile), and look forward to following this blog!