The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a terrible name for a rather lovely film. In this age of CGI cataclysms and superhero fisty cuffs that kill at the box office it seems that mainstream romantic films are getting increasingly rare. The 2000’s era ‘Chick Flicks’ are essentially extinct as are most romantic comedies, unless you count the ones that have decided to go for the frat pack gross-out humour. It’s a strange climate when a film as classically structured as Guernsey Literary seems almost refreshing.
Guernsey is a tiny island off the coast of Normandy, closer to the French mainland but still under British sovereignty. In 1941 it was under Nazi control after all the Channel Islands were occupied in the lead up to Operation Sea Lion. This largely unknown but fascinating piece of history is the backdrop to our story, based on the 2008 novel by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.
Set a year after the war ended, Juliet Ashton (Lily James) is a successful writer going around the UK launching her new book. She seems like a sweet young woman, who is set to marry an American army officer (Glen Powell) and is a constant source of support for her editor and oldest friend Sidney (Matthew Goode). When she receives a letter from a fan things take an unexpected trip to the island of Guernsey. During the occupation some residents of the island started a book club to try and keep spirits up amid the routine German cruelty and food rationing – hence the existence of ‘Potato Peel Pie’. Unexpected revelations mean that Juliet has found the story for her next book, any maybe something more.
Directed by Mike Newell, whose most popular films are Four Weddings and a Funeral and Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire, this is a charming and delightfully quaint British film which isn’t afraid to wear its heart on its sleeve and is all the better for it. It’s been a while since we’ve had an unapologetic classic romance and this hits every story beat perfectly.
A lot of success is due to the main duo of Lily James and Michiel Huisman. James has been a very enjoyable on screen presence since breaking out with Cinderella and she continues to pick really good projects to share her softly spoken British ways. Huisman, who is mostly known from Game of Thrones, makes for a great counterpoint as the rural farmer with the unique talent for always having his stubble the exact same, perfectly trimmed length.
The true star of the show is Guernsey itself, which looks like something out of a fairy tale or a classic British novel. The filmmakers have clearly done their research, the history of this island is brought to the screen with respect and the inhabitants of this tiny community have a fascinating story to tell. The coastal locations are breathtaking and with the continuous showcase of delightful cosy cabins on the edge of the woods it’s going to do wonders for local tourism.
Mike Newell has delivered a fairly straightforward but thoroughly enjoyable piece of British cinema. It’s all quite lovely, especially since it seems like it’s been a while since there’s been straightforward romance that isn’t trying to subvert expectations. It aims for picturesque charm and does it perfectly.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is in Australian cinemas from Thurs 19 April through StudioCanal.
