After working as a costume designer on Miss Austen Regrets, the BBC drama staring actress Olivia Williams as Jane Austen, Andrea Galer felt compelled to create a customised film to highlight the connection between the 19th century world of Jane Austen and contemporary Sri Lanka through fashion.

This documentary entitled Romance and Reality was shot at Ham House in Richmond. It elegantly transports the viewer from England and Sri Lanka seamlessly and romantically. Andrea incorporated the hand-made silk bobbin lace made by Sri Lankan women in Galle in the costumes worn by the characters, Jane Austen and Fanny Knight. You will see the work on the cuffs on Jane’s sleeves and on Fanny’s wedding dress. The documentary crosses from the grandeur of the English country estate to the serene shores of Sri Lanka and the origin of the lace. This segment of the documentary stars a Sri Lankan young woman wearing a red evening dress and chiffon style cardigan, which features the same lace cuffs as shown in the BBC’s film.

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