The thing is, when I was in the United States, my friends asked me to recommend a good old-fashioned movie. I immediately remembered this film, I watched it in 2018 and commented on it. My-hit. I'll do it again. The film is based on an amazing book of the same name, which I read twice. Mary Ann Schaffer and Annie Barrows, published in 2008, is a somewhat more Sentimental as it should be, and for those who love tea, and the whole cultural British culture. The ceremony. Of course, this is a melodrama, but refined and stylized for a general landscape view. England. The book is much, much more delicious. But the movie went with warmth and charm. Read the book and watch the movie. 8/ 10.🧣 Review written: November 14, 2023, Olya Grinevskaya (Alenushka).
In the center of the picture is a young writer Juliet, leading the “investigation”; stories of people; and, of course, books.
Ghensi Island, occupied by Nazi Germany, serves as the starting point of the plot and the main scene. In the future, we are constantly transported in time: then we observe the current events of post-war England, which is just beginning to recover, then we visit the memories of the heroes.
In this picture, on the one hand, a simple plot, on the other - a conversation about eternal values (compassion, the struggle for ideals, helping others, etc.), female emancipation and, of course, love.
Cinema will allow you to have a pleasant evening, leaving behind both food for thought and something life-affirming in the soul. It is more important than gold to find “your” people, because, having found loved ones in spirit, you will become truly rich. It is worth noting the beauty of the views and the selection of characters that please the eye.
Then you can just watch the film and not read my review, returning here after watching or not coming back: ) You have to write in a very long language.
Deployed:
He drew attention to this film mainly out of love for literature: You know what books are capable of. That’s what we have in common, no matter how different we are, says one character. I must admit, he made me remember that books are not just personal worlds for single people (and provide an opportunity to survive difficult times), they are also a common space for discussion and communication of people, fill minds with common meanings and ideas.
“And what books does your beloved love?” – ask the main character.
Now the information environment has grown, we draw meanings (often meaningless) from many sources (cinema, television, the Internet), but books remain the base. Imagine a world without modern means of communication, the one that was even before the authors of the tape showed us. It will be especially noticeable the existence of a thought enclosed in a book, outside space and time, that is, capable of uniting people from different places and points of history. However, before the invention of printing, books were not so widespread, nevertheless, books in one form or another have existed for a long time and, in many ways, are the basis of our civilization.
The picture has a place of kindness, spacious landscapes of the island of Gensi, with its cold beauty, night murmur of water, stars and birds singing.
The storyline seems quite uncomplicated by modern standards, at the same time it has several layers that are quite organically woven into each other and develop along with the movement of the plot. It seems to me that the emphasis is not on the event series, but rather on what is happening in the souls of people, as in classical literature, where the outside world often acts as a decoration for the thoughts and feelings of the characters.
The first layer (here and then the layers are not hierarchically located, but simply located) is the theme of war, which is conducted not only outside, but also in the minds or, if you like, the souls of people. We are told to preserve our humanity in spite of external circumstances. Thousands of slaves brought from Poland, from Russia. They worked day and night. They were kept in pens, under the scorching sun and torrential rain. Not even cattle are treated that way. We almost died. And they died. Starving and dying, one of the heroes tells with sadness and indignation.
We are being shown that reality is difficult to divide into black and white, because the human world is much more complex. They may be among their own scoundrels, and among strangers, on the contrary. People love power and gossip. Everyone has his own successes and mistakes, his lessons, strength or impotence, his secrets, guilt, and even the same religion, everyone understands in his own way.
Another layer is the theme of a strong woman, her moral qualities, compassion. It makes its own choices, that is, it has subjectivity. The main character - Juliet - charming, intelligent and adventurous, smiles a lot and beautifully, which is actively used by the director. However, she is also the main character. It is worth noting that as a writer, she originally worked under a male pseudonym - Isi Bikertaf, and I would not be fooled by her explanation of the reasons for this decision in the tape.
The men around Juliet are matched: intelligent, charismatic, stylish, each in its own way is interesting. Each of them is a reflection of a certain level of reality and distribution of roles. With one Juliet in feminine outfits amid luxury, she's having fun, but "soulful." With another - in trousers and a blouse, in which she is no less good. It is worth noting that women’s trousers at that time were not only clothes, but still a symbol. In some cases she is the object of possession, in others she is the seeker and bearer of her own ideas. The idea of a strong woman is also embedded in Elizabeth, another female character through whose story Juliet finds herself. As they say: only in a sincere desire and help to others can we find ourselves and our happiness.
And of course, this is a love movie. All this goodness is intertwined with the theme of literature I mentioned above. It is worth looking carefully and asking questions, there are interesting nuances in the visual series. You will see more the better your base is. At the same time, not a masterpiece, but it struck me:
To understand what real happiness is is happiness. Few people would voluntarily give up wealth, but it does not make anyone happy. And the girl also caught the eye: she did not require bright entertainment, but listened to books with pleasure. I wish it was for my kids, but now it’s just a dream: they’re different, unfortunately.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, directed by Mike Newell, 2018 This rather prolific director personally I remember the most two films - "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "Donnie Brasco", not bad and "Witch's Arell", all of them are completely different, so I decided to watch this film, received a good review about it. It turned out to be such a good English retro melodrama, which, nevertheless, looks normal, despite the solid two-hour timekeeping. This is the year I was born, 1946. A young writer, Juliet, who has already published several books, is looking for a plot for a new book, simultaneously collaborating with a newspaper in which a longtime friend of their family, her parents she lost during the war, works as the editor-in-chief. In addition, she is seriously cared for by the American military, very well provided financially. Things seem to be going well. Suddenly, she receives a letter from a pig farmer Dawsey from the island of Guernsey, who got his hands on a book belonging to her, who asks for help with finding a bookstore, they are not on the island. Between them, a correspondence begins, from which she becomes aware of the existence during the war on the island (and it was one of the few British territories occupied by the Germans) of a club of book lovers with such a strange name, she is interested and goes to the island, suggesting to write about this club. But everything is not so simple, she learns about the not simple story that was behind all this. Then the plot unfolds according to the laws of melodrama. I must give credit, the actors for the roles in this film were selected very well, they play well.
The picture was reviewed on repeated recommendations together with the author of the recommendation. And I had to say, I was afraid that the film would be pretty much 'for the ladies and about England'. For some reason, this combination gives especially beautiful and predictable works. And each time you first feel this inner protest or unpleasant premonition that the world will be shown deliberately wonderful, physically comfortable and safe, the characters will be Victorian and noble, the danger will be external and faceless, and negative characters (if any) will be overcome simply by the very force of this nobility or a kind but firm word, and all violence will be taken by the author for brackets.
Everything is good about it, except isolation from life, the absence of such important engines of consciousness as hunger, cold, pain or fear, and the notorious predictability.
That didn't happen? It was! Somehow I guessed... Maybe by the cover or title?
However, I must say that this is a form of narrative, a genre shell through which one must be able to see. It may even be a reaction of a developed consciousness, an educated mind and a pure heart to the crises and horrors of life, to the events of history - whether it is events of the past or stories from the lives of relatives or friends. A
The clearer this understanding is, the more clearly you realize what time the author of the book and the film describes, what the characters had to go through, which, thanks to the above approach, instantly become alive, real and dear to you. And if so, then you experience what is happening as your own sorrow or happiness, you sit at the table with them, walk along the field, hug goodbye, yearn or hope.
One of the main lessons that are relevant today (and always, probably) is that the tragedy of one family, one person, a child or an elderly person already ground all the glory of the conquering history of mankind, which we somehow, sometimes, are manly proud of, which is sometimes praised by other beautiful films.
8 out of 10
The navigator said you might not like it. But why, I thought, is the book great? Not only did I not like the movie, but I forgot it. A few months later, I wondered why the rating was issued. I decided to watch and remembered the movie. Artificial intelligence was right. Everything interesting from the history was dug out, only cleaning was left.
I have not read the book, so I will share my impressions exclusively from the film.
In general, the story is interesting, but it is definitely not worth watching if you expect melodrama, which is claimed as one of the genres of the film. The love line in the film as if copied-pasted from hundreds of other melodramas, just changed the characters. There is nothing to spoil here – what you think at the beginning can happen is bound to happen. I was very disappointed with this presentation.
I did not like the fact that the chief editor of the heroine is a completely cliched character. This is the best gay friend that every girl dreams of having.
I wanted to see more characters, especially Elizabeth. Of course, you can’t do that in 2 hours of the movie. We could have removed the love line since we couldn’t do everything right away. Honestly, cut out those stupid scenes and the movie would be better. It's only Spanish shame.
Though it's beautiful as a drama. The story is also good.
There were attempts to convey the atmosphere of the island, but for me they were superfluous. It looked like a blogger's Instagram vlog - inappropriate in this context. Or you could have tried it differently.
Our life consists of a series of positive and negative moments, and sometimes it is so important to plunge into a world where people do noble deeds for the sake of others, where love has no conventions, where kindness is boundless.
The film attracted me with its title. I knew right away it would be something amazingly gentle. The atmosphere of writing envelopes the film, you immerse yourself in ordinary everyday life with unusual people (after all, we are all unusual).
The film makes it clear that happiness consists in small joys, and for everyone it is their own. Not everyone needs wealth, he will exchange it for an evening with like-minded people, and someone, on the contrary, is closer to secular evenings. Both are beautiful. It is wonderful that there is a person for each person, although we often make the wrong choice.
I knew from the beginning that the main character was going to leave Mark, and it was very upsetting, I didn’t want the writers to justify it. I wanted to get away from this cliché when the heroine finds someone better, closer to herself and stays with him. Yes, we've all been looking for happiness all our lives, but playing love without finding ourselves and breaking our hearts has become too common in movies. I give credit to the fact that the writers did not force Mark to do some bad thing, so that the audience turned away from him and accepted the choice of Juliet. The situation can be viewed in two ways, but I expected that the love line would still be pushed to the background.
I didn’t like the behavior of the heroine with the participants of the book club, I don’t think I thought so, but she behaved very intrusively, climbed into personal stories and was sure that she should be told everything. It was a bad impression on her.
In general, the film causes positive emotions, I would recommend it for viewing, it is possible to revise and a second time.
8 out of 10
1. Frankly, I would have fallen asleep over both the original (book) and the film, but the latter at least finished to its logical conclusion.
2. Many praise the book and frankly hail the film, because in their opinion the characters in the film are ' floated ' and not cake at all. I can not object or confirm anything, but the characters of the film are really quite template, including the main character, which, according to the authors, should not be. And yes, I don't like Lily James with 'War and Peace' and I continue to dislike her here. Deer eyes and noisy breathing are not my fetish.
3. The action is as predictable as possible. Take away the war and the books and, voila, we have before us the typical work of Barbara Cartland #1002, where a rich lady from the world falls in love with a rude but such a tough farmer. Alien children to soften the souls are attached.
The film is disgusting more than the word ' disgusting'.
Of course, it is not based on any book. The book is amazing. The film is completely different characters and, accordingly, a different plot, since a person with a different character acts differently in similar circumstances.
But God be with him, let’s say you haven’t read the book and after 15 minutes of viewing don’t burn the screen like I did.
All the characters of this film are not just templates, they are great for the template they play, they are insignificantly smaller even than it.
The heroine is still trying to play Cinderella in a children's fairy tale, using the same game techniques: every second blinks as if waiting for a blow and makes replica sounds like the heroes of cartoons or pixel games. If you've watched Disney cartoons for girls, you'll understand. Unsuccessfully tries to portray a witty writer, dried up by the war and dreaming of life-affirming stories both in life and in her books, and since she tries unsuccessfully, it is completely unclear what kind of person she is in general, where and why she went and what she does there.
The rest of the characters did not get that, just play extras with one trait: Isola is an idiot, Amelia is old, Eben exists, Dawsey is handsome, Mark is sticky-nasty, Elizabeth (essentially the main character) did not get even one trait - the courage that was supposed to pour out of her and infect everyone else, in the film she looks like an idiot - Isola only younger, the line with Keith was simply removed.
Well, how can it be an interesting slice of human relations if instead of people we have cardboard memes, and instead of the main character smeared with a tonal flashing bewilderment? No way. So there is no point in discussing the plot - there is no sense in this film at all, it is NO ANYTHING. There are simple naive films about love, it’s not about him. By what a miracle he has a rating above 7 remains a huge mystery to me, apparently the magic of this stunning book came down here like a fairy godmother heroine-individuals.
0 out of 10
Word ' disgusting' called and asked not to associate it with this film.
The most amazing thing about this film is the combination of detective, love melodrama, drama (the aftermath of war) and the story of a girl who finds her true calling. That's a great vinaigrette. A young writer needs a plot, and she gets something worthwhile entirely by chance thanks to a letter from a pig farmer on a remote island. The case takes place immediately after the Second World War. The girl is young and beautiful, she is looking for adventure and finds something more than just adventure and good material for a new book.
Actors. A good half of the actors from Downton Abbey. For me, this is the criterion of success. The lead role is Lily James and she is amazing. To Michael Hausman, I apparently do not breathe smoothly after the Age of Adalin, but I did not even recognize him, an excellent ability to reincarnate.
Nature is fantastic. I really want to see the UK with my own eyes.
History. World War II and its aftermath through the eyes of heroes. I think it's wonderful to tell stories like this: what exactly these people went through, how, what they did, what they felt, who they were in this war, even if not soldiers. The story of one of the characters is worth telling. By the way, the title of the film is directly related to the war.
2 hours of pure emotion and no minutes of boredom.
10 out of 10
For those who have not read the book, the film may be liked - high-quality shot, excellent actors (although I personally do not like Lily James, and Matthew Goode is criminally not enough), beautiful views of the island that cause a desire to visit there and see it all live.
But as I read the book, the film was a complete disappointment.
1. Everything in the book is logical: the heroine finds close friends by correspondence, gradually gets to know them, they accept her, gladly share their stories and wait for her. In the film, an impulsive girl, spitting on obligations to the publishing house, reading one letter, rushes to the island to strangers, imposes herself on their company, pulls out secrets that they do not want to share, and in the end still does what they did not give permission, because she is so comfortable.
2. The book, despite the memories of the horrors of war, occupation, concentration camps, is not heavy, it gives a desire to live on, to seek and find joy in life. It gives you warmth and comfort. I didn't see that in the movie. There was some attempt, but the way the heroine sniffed out secrets and pulled information blocked this attempt.
3. The image and the story with Mark - in the book it is clear why he is not suitable for Mr. heroine, everything is logical. But in the film Mr. heroine behaves with him ugly - being engaged, flirts and builds eyes to another man.
In general, if you do not take into account the book, you can watch the film once, but if you have already read it, literally everything is annoying. Maybe it would be better to make a miniseries to include all the story branches of the book.
World War II is over. Young writer Juliet Ashton is promoting her book, but believes that the theme of war and her fictional character has exhausted itself and therefore all this weighs on her. At the same time, she unexpectedly receives a letter from the British island of Guernsey from a member of the "Club of lovers of books and pies from potato peels" & #39; with whom she begins a correspondence, which led to the fact that she decides to go to the island and personally get acquainted with the club and its members.
Lily James, a young star ' Downton Abbey' quickly burst into half-metric cinema, starring, among other things, in 'Baby driver' Edgar Wright and the second part of the musical Mamma Mia, which is very good. However, in this picture, the impression of her game remained mixed. The film itself seems good, it competently conveys the plot of the book on which it was based, as well as the main idea, which is that after the war, even in the most remote and quiet corners of the world there were their own small human tragedies. The presentation of this idea, the spectacle of how closed and embittered by mental pain people gradually open up to an outsider are realized perfectly, but the personal line of the main character is somehow pale and expressionless. Therefore, it is worth watching the film not as a melodrama, which almost does not exist here, but as a historical post-war drama with good detail.
There are no unnecessary storylines in the film. The story unfolds smoothly, lining up in a collected picture of puzzles.
Juliet’s actions and, most importantly, motivation are clear and not framed by excessive inner secrecy.
The mood of the island is perfectly conveyed and it is not only beautiful landscapes, but also people repairing their souls.
Wartime is shown in contrast to the usual (Soviet) perception, but despite this, sympathy and a sense of world injustice arise when viewing.
Still, the story in the Club of lovers of books and pies from potato peels, will not be accepted by everyone. Since after the horrors of the war, people still mean by the word "fascist" everyone by a German. Perhaps this topic will divide the audience into two camps. There will be those who want to stay on the side of the hostess. . .
In any case, the film is not without themes for reflection, and that is good.
P.S. There are no questions left. No hole in the plot. The moods and future actions of the characters can be predicted by the emotions on the faces of the actors, which indicates a good game.
7 out of 10
These are once lived and forever remained on the pages of favorite works of life of heroes, countless magical worlds and unique descriptions, these are streams of feelings and experiences, vices and goodness, tragedies and love. And after reading only one good book, you burn inside with the desire to share it, discuss with someone, praise or stand in front of friends emotionally quote. This undoubtedly unites different people who are not familiar to the mud of the moment, not just in close friends, but in the most real, sympathetic and sincerely wanting to help close family. And it is in such a family, by accident, once gloomy circumstances, will get the main character of the film.
She is a writer who is determinedly looking for a plot for her book and is ready to go to many adversity to achieve the desired. And so, one of the unremarkable days, she receives an unpretentious letter from a man who once found a book with her address, and wants to find out about a good bookstore in London, due to a lack of artwork on the island of Guernsey. As a result of correspondence with a new acquaintance, the girl is inspired and amazed by the unusual history of the club. This story so captivates the young writer that it turns her entire conscious life upside down. What happens next? You can learn and feel only by watching a movie or reading a book of the same name. However, it is worth noting that the book, as usual, differs significantly from the film adaptation. And, having read the best-selling novel before viewing the picture, you run the risk of being disappointed in the second one. Therefore, here I would advise either to watch the movie first, or to remember the unforgettable truth: a movie made from a book is a personal interpretation of the plot by the director, he is free to do with it everything he considers necessary, and therefore, you should evaluate his creation separately from the original source.
Mike Newell’s work was not even trivial. It is worth noting that to make an action-packed film, according to the method of an unreliable narrator, supplementing it with both love lines and a detective component, revealing the characters of not only the main characters, but also many secondary ones, giving logical motivations and opening the characters again - it is not simple. And we will add to this also a good performance of the cast, not a bad camera work and the complete absence of a soundtrack alien to this world, but replacing it with the cry of nature, in the form of: birds singing, grass rustling and wind blowing, as we get what is called a good, kind and leaves behind a pleasant aftertaste story.
There are not many of them, but each of them has its own flavor. And that's the one I liked. However, this is only my humble opinion and you do not have to agree with it.
There are no accidents. For something important to happen, you need to listen very carefully to the voice of intuition. And at the right time, be on the island, taste the potato peel pie, take off the ring, write your book, and return to the island again. Which is what the main character of the film Juliet does.
A great film for fans of the atmosphere of good old England and the series ' Downton Abbey'. Wonderful landscapes, excellent acting, subtle humor and a pleasant love story - all this you will find in an easy picture with a long title about books, pies and cleaning.
Speaking of the latter. Our grandparents often had to eat potato peels during the war. Really, not in such a pleasant way. In general, it is impossible not to note how striking the difference in the behavior of the fascists in the occupied territories in different countries was. Yes, occupation is always unpleasant. But compared to what happened to our people during the war, in England, I would regard the Germans' post as "a slight inconvenience".
Although it is on this, on the atrocities of war, and built the whole plot of the picture. Trying to hide an illegally raised pig from the Germans, a group of residents of a small British island organize a book club. He is the one who saves them from everything that happens. A few years later, as a result of accidental correspondence, a young writer Juliet learns about the existence of the club. She is so moved by this story that she decides to come to the island and personally meet the participants. But on the spot it turns out that behind the usual book club there is a big drama. Activist and the main inspirer of the company Lizzie - a girl with a huge sense of compassion, trying to help a teenager driven to forced labor, gets into an unpleasant story. And now Juliette's task is to unravel this case, to help the club members solve their problems. It’s just like you know it.
The film is very light, unobtrusive, truly British. The wonderful atmosphere of old England - all these ivy-covered houses, overgrown paths and indispensable tea.
One of the best pictures I have seen in months.
For a long time, the film adaptations of great books cause me only negative emotions, so I do not expect much from them. But why did I wait?
The original source is such a pleasant work that after reading there is a feeling of satisfaction. Since the novel is written in the form of letters from heroes to each other, it is read very vividly and interestingly.
The film is a banal love story. Such flat characters. Several times while watching, a wave of outrage broke out in me, as in the scene near the ship sending to Guernsey, when Juliet does exactly the opposite of what she did in the book. And in the film, almost every event in the book is turned backwards.
The main character, so ironic, charming but at the same time timid, in the production turned simply into a brazen pigalica, everywhere and everywhere sticking nose out of their own business. Her reverent attitude towards little Keith, how she became attached to her, was not shown in the film. But trifling skirmishes with the owner of the apartment, filmed in full. Some story threads are missing, which only exacerbated the feeling that this is just a luboff movie. The feeling that the creators wanted to tell us only part of the story, and make that part stupid and frivolous.
What the film perfectly conveyed was the delightful nature of Guernsey. So I imagined - the expanses, waves, how everything comes to life after the war and is transformed. In terms of video series, the film copes with hurrah, perfectly conveys the atmosphere of the Channel Islands and post-war time.
Play actors is good, everything is in its place.
But for the script I want to give a gold raspberries.
I understand that the film adaptation cannot be compared with the original source, but why then would producers and directors choose literary hits, take and write their own scripts, and not torture great stories?
5 out of 10 for beautiful scenery, great costumes and nice actors.
The Potato Peel Book and Pie Club is a historical melodrama co-produced by filmmakers from the United Kingdom, France and the United States, based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Mary Ann Schaeffer and Annie Burroughs, published in 2008. The collection of this picture managed to reach an insulting mark of 23 million dollars. And even though the budget of the picture is still unknown, it is clear that all the allocated funds went to work.
The scenery and costumes conveyed the atmosphere well after the war in a separate UK town. The film showed completely different classes of the population. We saw who the war affected more and left an irreparable mark on the memory.
The story itself is not a typical melodrama. The film tells the whole tragedy of the city during the war and for the most part tells the events through flashbacks. I have to admit that it really works. It becomes interesting to follow the development of events in the film, and the successful disclosure of the characters allows you to fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere and imbue yourself with the bitter fate of the characters. It is because of this that the love branch becomes incomprehensible, which seems as implausible as possible. The creators made a good historical drama, so the relationship between the characters does not look logical. We do not see them, but we do not see each other. Without it, it would be much better.
Writer Juliet appeared in the image of a dreamy and cheerful lady. The performer of the role of Lily James well conveyed this image and perhaps became the main decoration of the film. This is not surprising, because the viewer watches the narrative from the face of a famous writer. Of the actors who played secondary roles, the most memorable are Tom Courtney and Catherine Parkinson.
Unfortunately, this film also suffers from some cliches in the genre of melodrama, but against the background of a well-built drama, everything looks not so sad, but still leaves a trace. The director had to not add this genre to his product at all, because because of this, the film looks too oversaturated and somewhat pathetic. The ending made not to rejoice, but to inspect with a certain disappointment.
I liked most of the two-hour viewing. I hope that the film will be able to collect a decent amount in the Russian box office.
The story of love? Life? Or the soul that seeks and finds its place?
Inside each of us is a huge world. Magic, books, oceans and unfulfilled dreams. Sometimes opening the veil can be difficult. What an act and what a person responds to inside. Find your place. My family. Your house.
We meet people in life. Friends, love, socialize. With someone we diverge, and with someone we immediately understand that we are destined to go hand in hand all our lives. How long have you heard of interest clubs? Now, in the 21st century, it has become something forgotten, old, boring, not even interesting. And it's strange to remember that a couple of years ago, I tried to organize a similar one. Unfortunately, things didn't work out, months passed, inspiration evaporated in the air, and my idea collapsed about the development of the world around me. But yesterday... Something's changed. In an almost empty theater room on the screen, I saw what was resonating inside. So much so that there were tears in my eyes. From awareness, from love and from your own, something unbearably own, which immediately needs to be returned to everyday life.
Club of lovers of books and pies from potato peels - what is it? A love story? Life? Or the soul that seeks and finds its place? It doesn't matter if it's peace outside or war. Pain, despair or happiness that overwhelms the world. "A man needs a man." To share all your own, to help carry your own burden to another. To know that you are not alone in this world.
The stories that each of us carries inside are important. Someone knows how to live, someone to tell, and someone to listen. There is a place for each manifestation, it is important to feel your own.
Every day we hear dozens of stories about the lives of people around us. Gossip, lies, emotions, truth, pain – all this rolls from the lips of the person sitting opposite. But does every story change us? Every person matters? Of course not. We can feel it in the subcortex. We understand, by the trembling and wet hands, by the fast-beating heart, by our eyes, which rush across the face opposite. Stories like this change us. Inspiring. Make it bigger. Turn it into a part, immediately tearing off its piece from the inside. Do you know what I mean?
Life, which invariably flows through the fingers, escapes into the past. And there are people who belong there. Among paper books, printed text, book clubs, poems aloud and conversations in a quiet room. Smells of dust and warm dinner, film world and days when you do not need to rush anywhere. People who listen to themselves and others with their ears to their chests, looking for history and life, and allowing others to find their “home.” If there's something going on inside, we're on the right track. We are from the past, and such films are for us.
There are reviews that are about the film, giving meaning and allowing you to decide whether to watch. There are those that are different. It's about thoughts and emotions, where between the lines you feel like your movie. You delay the first sentence, and after the last one you buy a ticket. This film made it possible not to set limits, not to adhere to the rules, but to feel how it should be. Me. Us. You.
There is something in English fairy tales that allows you to instantly distinguish them from American ones - seasoned with other principles and common techniques to charm the viewer. And Mike Newell's new film is a fairy tale, of course. And the one where from the very first shot you feel safe. Heroes will have to go through trials, survive fears, disappointments, bitterness of losses, overpower themselves, make the right and difficult choice - there is no doubt about it. And yet, as we well know and anticipate, kindness and justice will unconditionally prevail here, love will overcome all obstacles, and everyone will find his own.
But it will be at the end. In the beginning, a young but successful writer, Juliet, finds herself in a new world – a world where the echoes of war can still be heard. She is confused, not knowing what to write about and how to live this new life, when only yesterday she stood in her own apartment, of which there is not even half. Fortunately, the mysterious savior will appear instantly. In the face of a young farmer living on the island of Guernsey, who survived all the horrors of the German occupation. Mr. Adams will turn to Miss Ashton with a request, and this seemingly insignificant little thing will mark the beginning of great change. Juliet will travel to Guernsey, leaving behind her fiancé, best friend and everything she knew before. And all for the sake of attending a meeting of the club, once organized as a cover - now a meeting place for those who were once united by the needs and hardships of war. And on this journey, Juliet learns a lot. Learn what family and friendship are, true love and real losses. She learns something that will cause her to change her mind, to realize that a secular life with convenience and passing fame is not the best way to be happy.
From the above, it is easy to understand that this story is the simplest and most naive, not looking for complex motives and problems. However, there is no shortage of charm, kindness and soulfulness here - and more, it seems, is not needed. And the main component of this charm is Lily James, one of the most charming British actresses who have shown themselves noticeably in recent years. She was lucky to play with Gary Oldman and not get lost against his background, to be the girlfriend of a music lover, decorating a talentless film, to try on the fate and dress of Cinderella - and even to feel like Natasha Rostova. It’s hard to tell if this girl has any talent or is capable of more than that, but it’s rare to find a face as open, cute and instantly liking as Miss James meets us in the first scene of the film. Her heroine naturally combines benevolence and grace, simplicity and aristocracy, the radiant optimism of youth and the decisive seriousness of the creator, the ability to be responsible and friendly, touching and sensitive. In general, a set of qualities of the brightest and cozy ones that make you smile, sympathize and want this girl to achieve everything.
Simple-heartedly convincing here and Michiel Hausman (it is difficult to say how correct it sounds in English – and even in Dutch you can not reprimand at all), depicting the familiar and submissively-loving Daario Naharis, who has here the same charisma of a guy simple, unaccountable-positive and to death faithful. And in addition, there are several other wonderful Britons in the person of Tom Courtney, Matthew Goode and Jessica Brown-Findley. It is worth mentioning the amazing, cozy landscapes, mountains, sea and sand - and in general the atmosphere of a non-urban idyll, which can be found only in such a place. The dark memories and secrets of the past that haunt the inhabitants of the island of Guernsey only bring them closer to the sympathetic Juliet Ashton and ourselves. With the pervasive conviction that although there is nothing in this story that could be singled out and extolled as an artistic success, it still comforts and pleasantly envelops us, making us move and dream. It's about coming to a small country house one day, sitting and listening to books read, talking, drinking a strange but warming gin and eating a piece of cake. The same, of course, from potato peels.
Everything, absolutely everything is destroyed, Sophie, roads, houses, people. Especially people.
Good books discourage bad ones.
I’m always somewhat strict about film adaptations – if the author clarified a point, then it was important. I don't like it when a director brings a lot of his own to a project. The exception only confirms the rule.
So, the events begin with the correspondence of the writer Juliet Ashton with members of the “Book and Potato Peel Pie Club” of the island of Guernsey. Together with the heroine, we learn how people survived during the war. The Russian audience will be very close to this story. Yes, we see everything in a life-affirming way, but this does not mean that the film is not true and does not come close to the realities of the events that took place then.
I love actress Lily James (I didn’t like her in the second part of Mamma Mia!). Outwardly – she is the perfect Juliet Ashton – brown eyes and golden brown hair. Those who have not read the book may have the impression that Juliet is superficial, frivolous and does not look like a writer at all, but she, like many others, needed to learn to enjoy life again. It is not mentioned that Juliet put out the fire with other women during the bombing. And her thoughts about the constant darkness due to boarded up windows of houses were not voiced.
It is very difficult to transfer the epistolary genre to the cinema format. At least because in the book of reflections and description of events, and in the film implies the presence of dialogue. It was the dialogue that I found falsely unfamiliar. Like they came from another book. The novel is very lively, you can steal Juliet quotes endlessly. But, unfortunately, they were almost not in the film adaptation.
To spoil the sea was not under the power of even the Germans. It is true, the views of the island of Guernsey are simply filled with light, sea, smells of the beach and gusts of wind – and I wanted to be on the other side of the screen.
What did not like – the lines of some characters were significantly reduced, while others were simply removed from the narrative. For example, the story of a girl from a concentration camp.
But the very “soul” of the book, the film conveyed very accurately, personally, touchingly.
The feeling that you are going through a familiar story with Julia does not go away.
One of the heroes talks about the second war and fascism. How did we do that again? And although the events in the film take place after the German occupation of the Channel Islands, everything reminds of the past - barbed wire on the beach, the absence of dear and close people who were taken by the war, destroyed buildings. And the main message of the book - to live again and learn to enjoy life is felt by the audience.
There was very little talk about books. To be honest, I miss the times when I sent letters and postcards. There is, of course, now such a phenomenon as post-crossing, but this is a bit wrong.
I recommend reading the book and watching this wonderful movie. It's beautiful!
We are in post-war England, where a young writer is trying to start work on a new book. Inspiration does not come to her until she receives a letter from a man from the island of Guernsey. During the war, reading united him and several other villagers in a literary club, and he recognized the name of the writer by finding a book in the destroyed library that once belonged to her. And then.. Then begins the absolute magic of books and love. The picture fascinates us with beautifully endless landscapes full of salt air, sea space and rocky cliffs. We enter the atmosphere of the post-war world of 1946, where people learn to trust each other again.
And what's very remarkable about this film is that it's about people, it's not about the horrors of war and the unbearable cruelty. We are told the stories of people who, despite all the hardships, kept a beautiful, bright fire in their hearts. The war did not break their spirit, did not deprive them of hope and faith.
And how much I was struck by this unifying power of the books in the film. It was like showing and proving the magic of literature. The beautiful world of reading, though briefly helped the heroes to fly away from occupied France. Bringing such different people together. It became their refuge and shelter.
Never underestimate the power of books. Remember that fate will bring people together. She'll find her way. Whether it is a flickering lighthouse, a lost handkerchief, a chance meeting or a letter sent in gratitude.
39; Some people have already belonged to someone even before they met them.