Finally, a movie where I’ve actually read the book. I don’t get much time to read for fun, so I was thrilled when this little book managed to get through my workaholic gatekeeper personality. With so much love for the book, I’ve been looking forward to seeing the movie as soon as it was announced. So how did it fair?
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is set in London after World War II.
In demand writer Juliet Ashton (Lily James), is in the enviable position of all writers. She has a delightfully lovable agent Sidney Stark (Matthew Goode), a string of promotional events and considerable interest in her next book. A book she has yet to start. She also has a wealthy, supportive boyfriend Mark Reynolds (Glen Powell) who enjoys her enthusiasm for the high life.
As she’s about to start a publicity tour she receives a letter from The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, started in Nazi-occupied Guernsey. Come on, who wouldn’t be intrigued.
Much to Sidney’s regret Juliet decides to visit the island and as she boards the ship Mark bends to one knee.
One the island Juliet meets the eccentric members of the Society. As the group sit down to hear a reading from Juliet, Eben (the delightful Tom Courtenay) produces a potato peel pie. Thankfully Isola (Katherine Parkinson) has bought along some of her homemade gin. Also present is young Eli (Kit Connor), and Amelia (Penelope Wilton) who watches over proceedings, a dark cloud, a secret hovering. And then there’s Dawsey (Michiel Huisman) who wrote Juliet the letter.
As the story of the Society’s origin is revealed and the secret constantly ignored, Juliet becomes more and more intrigued. Equally intriguing is Dawsey, the handsome farmer nothing like the person she thought had written the letter.
The movie is a warm delight on a rainy afternoon. The wonderful cast produced such a beautiful caring rendition of the book.
Dawsey was deliciously mysterious without falling back on the brooding stereotype. Amelia wonderfully tortured. Isola the right amount of bohemian. Eli wise beyond his years. Eben eminently hug-able, and Juliet, an early example of how women of independent means could writing their own future.
What a shame the author never knew the international success of her little book, and the movie that followed.
For more information go to Luna Cinema.
