Jane Austen’s Period Drama

Bluesky

It’s the moment that Miss Estrogenia (Julia Aks) has been waiting for all her life. Finally, Mr James Dickley (Ta’imua) is about to propose marriage – but as he gets down on one knee, there on the hillside, he notices a stain on her dress. She is bleeding. Unaware of the cause, shushing her for fear that she might exhaust herself, he sweeps her up in his arms and runs back to her father’s manor house to get help.

There is no danger, here, of heavy flow. It’s extraordinarily superficial for an Oscar nominee. Gathered around her, Estrogenia’s sisters scrabble to come up with plans whereby they can conceal the real cause of her ailment. Their father politely retires to his study. One thing they are certain of is that she absolutely must not disabuse Mr Dickley of his beliefs by explaining the shocking truth of menstruation – not if she wants the marriage to go ahead. Estrogenia is determined, however, to tell the truth – and the detail in which she does so may well prove enlightening for some viewers as well.

That’s about it, except to say that the film is superbly crafted, which is probably the real reason for its success. Everything, from the dialogue to the locations, the production design, lighting and costumes and the full orchestra providing the incidental music, is spot on. People inclined to swoon over heritage films may find this the perfect way to get their fix in just 13 minutes.

There are also puns in rich supply, likely bringing along their own fan base. Still, this is a marmite film – some viewers are clearly delighted by it whilst others will fail to see any point at all. The good news is that most people will have no difficulty discerning which of this groups they fall into before deciding whether or not to give it a try.

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