An Anglo-French romantic-comedy as refreshing as a summer breeze, Jane Austen Wrecked My Life is the story of Agathe (Camille Rutherford), an aspiring writer who works by day in famed Parisian bookshop, Shakespeare & Co. While she dreams of finding love just like in an Austen novel, things shift when she’s invited to the Jane Austen Writers’ Residency in the English countryside where she meets Austen’s stand-offish distant relative Oliver (Charlie Anson).

For the film’s writer-director Laura Piani, this is flush with autobiography. Like her character, she worked in Shakespeare & Co during her student days, often manning the tills during the evening shift: a perfect place for people-watching. ‘You had the tourists and the Parisian people, and then you had sometimes lonely people, sometimes homeless people, especially in winter, when it was cold outside. We were actually letting everyone in.’

Naturally, she’s also a huge fan of Jane Austen, a writer who has continued to dominate popular culture (remember, without Austen, there’d be no Bridget Jones).  ‘It is fascinating to think that 250 years later, she still influences generations and generations of readers. She owned romantic comedies,’ says Piani.

Intriguingly, the film also stars Frederick Wiseman, the 95-year-old documentarian (of such acclaimed observational films as National Gallery and City Hall). Piani first met him a decade ago on the streets of Paris and they became friends. When she was casting the role of a poet, Wiseman cheekily put himself forward. ‘It's a big gift to end up with this man that I care so much for,’ says Piani, promising her film veers from the usual romcom path. ‘It’s important to not do another film where a woman is saved by love, even if I do feel that love can save many people.’

Jane Austen Wrecked My Life is in cinemas from Friday 13 June.