The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society


Spoilers
If you want to go and see a good old fashioned, romantic weepie that makes you feel all emotional warm and fuzzy go and see The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
It's a rather delightful piece of whimsy.
The perky Lily James

Impossibly beautiful authoress Juliet Ashton ( a perky Lily James) is at the height of her success in post war London when she receives a letter from Dawsey Adams (Michiel Huisman) an impoverished but well read pig farmer from the Island of Guernsey. Adams is part of a literary group formed on the occupied island by a group of lonely and isolated neighbours and his account of this strange band of misfits at first intrigues then enchants Juliet who subsequently visits the island to get drawn into a rather painful wartime mystery.

So you can see , the film has everything. Wartime hardships, shoulder pads, a delightfully eclectic set of characters, beautiful scenery, Nazi cruelty and Mr Huisman who makes the wearing of a dirty and hole filled fisherman's jumper an art form. He is basically the most beautiful man I have seen on screen in a long time.

The ensemble cast has been picked perfectly from Sunday night tv.
Jessica Brown Finlay is excellent as the mysterious and brave Elizabeth McKenna, Katherine Parkinson plays a ever hopeful gin making spinster rather movingly and heavyweights Tom Courtenay and Penelope Wilton provide warmth and gravitas in spades as the de facto grandparents of the group
Their society meetings have a real drama and pathos on screen.

Having said this , apart from the dreamy and soft spoken Huisman, I have to say that Lily James carries the film admirably. She possess a doe eyed sweetness which is perfect for the film's gentle innocence that finally, after a somewhat contrived will they, won't they? finale ends with a kiss that would make even the most hardened of watchers swoon.

It's a lovely film.

38 comments:

  1. Good to see Tom C there; I've always liked his work.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I read the book a few years ago. I loved it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Like Yael I really liked the book.

    ReplyDelete
  4. You're an old softie aren't you?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I cried four times during the film so I must be

      Delete
  5. One of my favorite reads a few years ago . . .
    I heard it was made into a movie . . .
    Had not heard it was out . . .
    Now to find it here in the states . . .
    Thank you for your heartening review . . .

    ReplyDelete
  6. This sounds right up my street. Thanks for the review.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you for the review! I've neither heard of the book nor the film before but I am familiar with Lily James and Michiel Huisman from their fantastic works. This wonderful review has made me very curious and eager to see this film (and to read the book for comparison!). I love unique and whimsical films.

    Also, as someone who grew up on a farm and raised pigs, I am always tickled to see how the work (and farm life) is portrayed on film. I chuckle whenever they do something that would be ridiculous or just asking for trouble on a farm. It ain't glamorous and it's hard work, but it builds character and teaches important life lessons. Plus, I love pork!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Funnily enough , I've raised pigs here and the scenes of their pens at dawsey's farm made me laugh inwardly ....any pig would have broken out of then within a second

      Delete
  8. That sounds like a wonderful movie. I wonder if we will get it here in Canada? -Jenn

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oo, didn't know this was coming - the book was so gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  10. It's in my diary for the coming week. I've seen the trailer so many times that it's turning me off even moreso than my initial reaction of "Oh no! Not ANOTHER war film!" However, go I shall.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Raymondo , the war is only referred to in flashbacks ....it's a charming love story really

      Delete
    2. Yes, so I read among the reviews of variable (if any) praise. Nevertheless, I will give it a fair chance.

      Delete
  11. Replies
    1. He's a Dutch actor which a quiet screen presence ,

      Delete
  12. I wanted to read the book, it is on the list.
    I will try to see the movie when it comes out here.

    cheers, parsnip

    ReplyDelete
  13. We off to see this next week 😁 What score did you give it?

    ReplyDelete
  14. We loved the film too (especially as we won free tickets)
    On the look out for the book now!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I really want to see this .

    ReplyDelete
  16. I will see if I can find it here.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I haven't heard of it but it sounds like one I would love to see.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Donna it's not a great film, but a sweet one

      Delete
  18. I loved the book, very happy the movie is good as well!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I read the book in one sitting - couldn't put it down - so I am very happy to hear that you think the movie is so well done - I will look forward to it.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I couldn't get into the book and stopped reading after the first 100 pages. However the film trailer and your review make me want to see this. It is the type of film I know I will love before seeing it and I am glad it opens this week!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. One of my top five books. Shall catch up with the film.
    Arilx

    ReplyDelete
  22. Our book club read this years ago and not one person didnt enjoy it totally. There's a film? Lordy, us over here in the US wont get it for ages, but I'll keep an eye out for it ! Thank You for a wonderful blog, by the way !!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I read the book and did not care for it. I am hoping it will be a better movie. The Enchanted April was the same way, the movie was better than the book for me.

    ReplyDelete
  24. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a historical novel by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows that was published in 2008. The novel is set in 1946 and is composed of letters written from one character to Read More potato peel society

    ReplyDelete

I love all comments Except abusive ones from arseholes