How did Jane Austen become Jane Austen? What inspired her to write what are universally acknowledged as six of the greatest novels ever written? What is it about her and her life that gave her such keen insights into the human condition?

These are questions that are answered in Becoming Jane. The movie opens with Jane (wonderfully portrayed by Anne Hathaway) living with her family in the south of England. Her father (James Cromwell) is a clergyman of modest means. Her mother (Julie Walters) desires for her to marry into a family with more money so that Jane would no longer have to worry about finances. Her best friend and closest confidant is her sister Cassandra (Anna Maxwell Martin) who is herself recently engaged. Her brother Henry (Joe Anderson) has entered into the militia and her other brother George (Philip Culhane) is deaf and unable to make a living so he is at home with the rest of the family.

Jane's life is rather sedate. Though she mingles in society she refuses offers of marriage from local gentlemen. She prefers to marry for love rather than money and therefore runs the risk of becoming an old maid, unmarried and unable to take care of herself.

Her situation changes dramatically with the arrival on the scene of Tom LeFroy (James McAvoy), a brash, young law student sent to the country to stay with relatives and tone down his wild ways. At first, Tom and Jane do not hit it off as they are dramatically different personalities. But eventually their affection for one another grows and Tom decides he wants to marry Jane. She happily accepts but the engagement comes to an abrupt halt when Judge Langlois (Tom's uncle, upon whom he is financially dependent and is his sole heir, portrayed by Ian Richardson) refuses to consent to the match. Tom and Jane decide to elope but even that plan is eventually thwarted. Tom and Jane eventually part ways but their affection for one another never totally dissipates.

It may seem at first odd to have an American portray such a beloved British author. Thankfully, the producers selected Anne Hathway, who provides the perfect portrayal of Austen. There is not an abundance of biographical information available about the author but as we discover in the "making of" featurette Miss Hathaway is an Austen devotee. She has read every single one of the novels several times and devoured everything she could find on the author. But most importantly, she understands the tremendously loyal following that Austen commands. As a result, she knew that it was important to get the portrayal "just right" and that is exactly what she did.