The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (film)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Societyis a 2018historicalromantic dramafilm directed byMike Newelland written byKevin Hood,Don RoosandTom Bezucha, based on the 2008 novelof the same namebyMary Ann ShafferandAnnie Barrows.
The film starsLily James,Michiel Huisman,Glen Powell,Jessica Brown Findlay,Katherine Parkinson,Matthew Goode,Tom CourtenayandPenelope Wilton. Set in 1946, the plot follows a London-based writer who exchanges letters with a resident on the island ofGuernsey, which had been underGerman occupationduringWorld War II.
A co-production between the United Kingdom, United States, and France,the film was distributed and financed byStudioCanaland produced by Blueprint Pictures and the Mazur/Kaplan Company. In 2010, development began on a film adaptation based on Shaffer's novel. In October 2016, James signed on for the lead role, with Newell set to direct. The film entered pre-production in January 2017, withprincipal photographytaking place acrossEnglandfrom 23 March to 15 May 2017.
It was released in cinemas in the United Kingdom in April 2018 and in France in June 2018. The film grossed $15.7 million worldwide and received generally positive reviews from critics. It was distributed in other international areas byNetflixon 10 August 2018 as anoriginal film.
In 1941, on the island ofGuernsey, four friends are stopped by soldiers for breachingcurfewduringGerman occupation. To avoid arrest, they say they were returning from a meeting of their book club, hastily named "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society".
Five years later, in January 1946 in London, the author Juliet Ashton is promoting her latest book, written under herpen nameIzzy Bickerstaff. She has just been contracted through her publisher Sidney Stark to write stories forThe Times Literary Supplementabout the benefits of literature.
Juliet receives a letter from Dawsey Adams, a Guernsey man who has come into possession of her copy ofCharles Lamb'sEssays of Eliaand who wants to know where to find a bookshop in England to buy another book by the same author. He tells her that he is part of "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society", which meets every Friday night. Juliet sends a book by Lamb andhis sister,Tales from Shakespeare, in exchange for more information about the society and how it came into being.
Juliet decides she would like to write about the society so arranges to travel to the island, despite Sidney's reservations. Her American boyfriend Mark proposes before Juliet embarks on the ferry, and she accepts.
Upon arrival at Guernsey, Juliet attends a meeting of the society where she is treated as a celebrity by the members: Dawsey Adams, Amelia Maugery, Isola Pribbey, Eben Ramsey, and Eben's young grandson, Eli. She is told that Elizabeth, the founding member, is overseas. Her daughter Kit is being looked after by Dawsey, and calls him "dad". Juliet asks permission to write an article about the Society, but Amelia reacts negatively to the idea.
Instead of returning home as planned, Juliet remains in Guernsey to conduct research, telling the group that she is writing about the German occupation. Over the following days, she learns that Elizabeth had been arrested during the occupation and sent to Germany, but that her friends are still hoping she will return.
Juliet asks Mark, who is in the armed forces, to try to locate Elizabeth. Juliet's landlady tells her that Elizabeth was no saint, hinting that she had been having sex with the occupying German forces in exchange for luxuries.
Juliet asks Dawsey about the story, and he explains that he is not actually Kit's father. Her real father was Christian Hellmann, a German doctor who had worked with Elizabeth at the local hospital. He had been sent back to Germany, and died when his ship was sunk.
Mark arrives in Guernsey, and criticises Juliet for not wearing her engagement ring. He brings information about Elizabeth, and Juliet relays to the society the news that Elizabeth had been sent to theRavensbrück concentration camp. There, she was shot and killed trying to protect a fellow prisoner.
Juliet and Mark return to London but Juliet is unable to settle back into her previous life. She breaks up with him and starts to write about the society. When her manuscript is finished, she gives a copy to Sidney and posts another to the society.
Dawsey reads her covering letter out loud to the group and realizes that Juliet has broken up with Mark. He decides to go to her, and departs for London. At the same time, she arranges to return to Guernsey. Juliet is just embarking on the ferry when she notices Dawsey on the wharf, and they reunite. He is about to ask Juliet to marry him when she interrupts to ask him the same thing. He accepts.
Some time later, Dawsey reads to Kit fromTales from Shakespearewith Juliet next to him, both wearing wedding rings. The Society holds another meeting, including Sidney, exchanging excerpts from books and discussion.
In July 2010, producer Paula Mazur announced that a script based on the 2008 novelof the same name, written byMary Ann ShafferandAnnie Barrows, had been picked up byFox 2000 Pictures. Despite a lack of financial incentives, Mazur said that she wanted the adaptation to be filmed on the titular island of Guernsey, stating "It's all a matter of economics and what looks right, but I can't imagine not filming in Guernsey."Several actresses were mentioned as potential cast members, includingKate Winslet,Anne Hathaway, andEmily Blunt.On 4 August 2011, it was announced thatKenneth Branaghwas set to direct the film, with filming aimed to commence in March 2012.
In January 2012 Winslet agreed to portray the lead role of Juliet Ashton.In April 2012, the film was delayed for another year due to scheduling conflicts.In February 2013, Winslet dropped out of the project, as did Branagh.In February 2016Mike Newellwas announced to direct the film, withRosamund Pike"circling" the lead role.StudioCanalwould finance and distribute the film.In October 2016,Lily Jameswas confirmed to star as Juliet.In March 2017Michiel HuismanandGlen Powellsigned for the roles of Dawsey Adams and Mark Reynolds, respectively.The film entered pre-production in January 2017, with filming set to commence in spring.
Principal photographybegan in March 2017 inNorth Devon.The port and village ofClovellyin North Devon representedSaint Peter Port, Guernsey, and many other locations in the same area were used for outdoor shots representingGuernseyas imagined in 1946.Exterior shots were filmed at Princes Wharf,Bristol, to represent Weymouth Docks in 1946.For the London portion of the shoot, photography took place onSicilian Avenuein London. Scenes were also shot at theHouse of Detentionin Sans Walk,Clerkenwelland in the foyer ofSenate House, London.Studio work was completed atEaling Studios.Filming wrapped in May 2017, with the first official images of the film released that month.
The film made its premiereand was theatrically released in the United Kingdom in April and in France in June byStudioCanal. It was released in other countries byNetflixas anoriginal filmon 10 August 2018.
Onreview aggregatorwebsiteRotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 81%, based on 73 reviews, and an average rating of 6.4/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Far more traditional and straightforward than its unwieldy title,The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Societyoffers delightful comfort food for fans of period drama."OnMetacriticit has aweighted averagescore of 65 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Harry Windsor ofThe Hollywood Reportergave the film a positive review, in particular praisingLily Jamesand the film's modern tone saying, "Buoyed by a reliably appealing star turn from James, this handsome tearjerker mostly sidesteps the tweeness of its title to become, somehow, both an old-fashioned romance and a detective story trumpeting gender equality."Trevor Johnston ofRadio Timesawarded the film three out of five stars, calling it "moderately engrossing". He praised the "likeable" performances, in particular that ofPenelope Wilton.Geoffrey McNab ofThe Independentalso awarded three stars out of five, calling the film a "jaunty and good-natured affair". He concluded that "The result is a film that, while perfectly enjoyable on its own terms, becomes every bit as cosy, nostalgic and superficial as the title suggests it is going to be."Kevin Maher ofThe Timesgave a very negative review, awarding one star. He called it "an inept and disingenuous froth-fest" and criticised the lack of chemistry between James andMichiel Huisman. Guy Lodge ofVarietyalso gave a negative review, criticising the mystery plot as "neither particularly intriguing nor, as the rather straightforward investigation unfolds, terribly surprising".Olly Richards ofEmpireawarded three stars out of five, calling it "A well told, beautifully acted drama that offers nothing new but a comforting level of familiarity and cosiness." and noticing the film's "gentle" tone.
Robbie Collin ofThe Daily Telegraphpraised the film as an "irresistible romantic mystery" and awarding four stars out of five. He also commended Newell'sensemble cast, particularlyKatherine Parkinson, saying, "he gives each of his cast members just enough room to stretch: a broad gag here, a hushed monologue there, and in Parkinson’s case both at once."Anna Smith ofMetroalso gave the film four stars and praised the performances fromTom Courtenayand Parkinson as "classy". However, she considered the subplots too "clustered" and said that the film's two-hour runtime was too long.Peter Bradshaw ofThe Guardianawarded the film two out of five stars, calling it "naive" and "a glutinous 40s-period exercise in British rom-dram solemnity".Wendy Ide ofThe Observeralso gave two stars, saying "even fans of the source novel ... might struggle with this photogenic but laboured adaptation." She also called the casting "hit-and-miss" and said that "the plodding storytelling relies on large chunks of exposition".Paul Whitington ofThe Irish Independentwas more positive, awarding three stars; he considered the film to be a "gentle, meandering drama".David Bradley ofThe Adelaide Reviewgave a lukewarm review, awarding a score of 6 out of 10. He favourably compared it to a "Downton Abbeyreunion" and praised James, saying, "she presents a luminous image of sheer British niceness that unfortunately never quite existed."