The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society
Directed by Mike Newell
- romance
- drama
- history
The story
Free-spirited writer Juliet Ashton forms a life-changing bond with the delightful and eccentric Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, when she decides to write about the book club they formed during the occupation of Guernsey in WWII.
What it’s like
Soft, sunlit period warmth: pastel English interiors in postwar London give way to the grey-green coast and crooked stone cottages of Guernsey, shot with a gentle, painterly eye for window light, rain on hedgerows and the shabby charm of a candlelit parlour. The palette is muted and honeyed, with the fields and sea softened into a nostalgic haze, and the camera lingers on faces, handwritten letters and piles of old books rather than rushing across the landscape. The score is light and melodic, all strings and piano, with the occasional wartime shadow falling across the mood. Its vibe is cozy and wistful, a warm pocket of melancholy that suits a rainy Sunday, a comfort rewatch or an evening with a cup of tea. The pace is unhurried, with the story's heart in the slow, affectionate way its characters, especially a reserved writer and a community of eccentric readers, open up to one another. Intensity is mild: German occupation is present in the background, with some brief tension, a few frightening moments and one or two sad deaths, but no graphic violence, gore or explicit content. It suits viewers who want history with a soft touch, romance and gentle humour, and an emotionally rich story about the healing power of books and friendship.
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