The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Based on the well-known and loved novel of the same name, the film is an ode to the bonds people can form, united by experiences, values and friendship. This film is a must-see because it is touching, relatable and offers a fantastic insight in the lives of British people during the invasion of the German army during WWII.

Juliet Ashton is a free-spirited writer. In 1946, in the post-war traumatised London, she receives a strange letter from a farmer living in Guernsey, an island nested between England and France. Intrigued, she responds and, soon, develops a fondness and friendship for the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society of which her pen pal is a member.

But underneath the appearances of an accidental book club, Juliet will discover the sufferings her new friends have been through during the war. She will investigate and research and, in the process, fall in love with Guernsey and her new-found family.

Directed by Mike Newell, this film takes you on a fantastic journey. At first, the plot might seem a bit too light-hearted and romantic but, once the story starts to unravel, it takes new depths and makes you reflect on what life must have been under German occupation. The restrictions, the starvation, the cruelty and the many losses.
The cast is strong and each actor delivers a truly believable performance. Lily James, used to period productions (she held an important role in Downtown Abbey), plays Juliet Ashton. The rebellious writer will go through her own journey to discover what she truly wants out of life. Penelope Wilton, who incarnates Amelia, gave a fantastic performance: her character wants to share her story but struggles with her own shame and modesty. The scenery and recreations of bombed sites and houses is neat and accurate.

The only downside is that no part of the movie was filmed in Guernsey…So, if the film inspires you to visit Guernsey, don’t be too surprised if it looks nothing like what you’ve seen on screen!