“The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society”
What did you think of when you read this? What in god’s name is this sentence? Well, believe me folks… the first time I read its name I had a small laugh too. Yes, it is quite mouthful. But it has been already said, don’t judge a book by its cover. I did underestimate it, until I saw the film myself. Let me give you a glimpse of this and let’s understand a little more; why do films like these need to come out more? Guernsey is an island near The United Kingdom on the English Channel which was once occupied by the Germans during World War II. I am doing research on Holocaust and World War II since last two years and maybe one of the reasons why this film holds a special place in my heart, unlike other romcoms (I do like romcoms as my sister says always “Sanika has watched all the British & American romcoms possible) Well, I can’t deny that possibility lol. This is how it starts…
Year 1941, Guernsey, Channel Islands, United Kingdom
Germany could never take over the United Kingdom except for the Channel Islands and during this occupation many people were the victims. Meet Juliet Ashton, an English writer from London and also meet her publisher, her oldest friend Sidney Adams (Matthew Goode). Juliet has lost her parents during the war and writes books by the name Izzy Bickerstaff. Their latest publication ‘Izzy Bickerstaff goes to war’ is being a hit, all thanks to Sidney and Stark publications's marketing. Juliet wants to write something different, for her own. Lily James who plays the role of Juliet has such a spark in her eyes throughout the film. She is happily in a relationship with an American bloke Mark Reynolds (Played by Glen Powell) who also happens to be a diplomat. Mark is head over heels for Juliet but whereas Juliet feels that she does love him but yet it is evident that she longs for something else, something more.
Enter Dawsey Adams (played by Michiel Huisman who is also known for his role in Game of Thrones as Daario Naharis). Dawsey writes a letter to Juliet informing her about an existence of a society called as, ‘The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society’ which is a reading book club and that they usually hold meetings on Fridays. So why does he write her a letter out of the blue? He came into the possession of her copy of ‘Essays of Elia’ and wants to know about where to find a bookshop in England to buy another book by the same author, Charles Lamb. Much to his surprise, Juliet sends another book by Lamb and his sister, Tales from Shakespeare in exchange for more information about the society and how it came into being.
Something fascinates Juliet and she wishes to write more about the society to publish it in the Newspaper and thus decides to visit Guernsey to get to know it all in person.
How well do you mend among people whom you have never met before? Juliet is someone just like you, me, us all. Longing for something. “ Do you suppose it’s possible for us to belong to someone before we have met them?” Juliet, an independent woman living in a place like London is unable to find a house because she doesn’t feel a sense of belonging anywhere she goes to. She has everything she wants but she realises eventually that what she desires is not really around. The film takes us through a beautiful nostalgia of how the 1940s could have been. One completely starts to believe that they were born in the 1940s. Times were hard and people were just getting used to the post war life, everything was a part of destruction by the SS forces and everyone was recovering. Piece by piece.
Juliet finally unable to resist, writes to Dawsey to visit Guernsey island herself and meet the society. She invites herself and while leaving for her journey something unexpected happens which she has mixed feelings about. Upon her arrival in Guernsey, Juliet attends the meeting of the Society where she is treated as a celebrity by the members: Dawsey Adams, Amelia Maugery (Penelope Wilton) , Isola Pribbey (Katherine Parkinson), Eben Ramsey (Tom Courtenay), and Eben's young grandson, Eli (Kit Connor). Juliet is told that Elizabeth (Jessica Brown Findlay), the founding member, is overseas which Juliet finds very suspicious. She slowly starts mixing with the members of the society getting to know its formation and origin as well as doubting where Elizabeth really is. I personally feel it is a great way to show someone willing to explore their new identities, and that Juliet realises eventually that she doesn’t belong to her previous life which is being a writer in London. A surprising element has also been added in the latter part of the film and I feel all of them have done a really great job in maintaining the essence of the characters.
You start to convince yourself that this is not someone acting on camera but real people in front of you. Well, you cannot help but feel sympathetic towards them, especially Amelia and to some extent Juliet and Dawsey, in fact everyone had lost their loved ones in the war. The instant chemistry between Juliet & Dawsey is evidently seen throughout the film which is really adorable. While we understand the adulation of Juliet towards Dawsey, she is answerable to her fiancé on the other side and Sidney being her best friend understands her in all the ways possible. The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society is a well thought, simplified tale of a different kind of family which has come together in a very unusual situation. They might not be blood related but they care for each other like anything. I liked the character Isola in particular; she is a happy go lucky woman and has accepted the destiny and situation she is put into and never once complaints. Dawsey is a charming young man who has been into sorrow for a long time but takes life as an enjoyment living on a farm.
There is empathy, there is love, there is kindness, there is sorrow and there is a feeling of incompleteness among everyone trying to fit in the puzzle. I mean that’s what we all look for right? Trying to fit rightly in the puzzle. It is a tale of a woman on a road of self discovery, broadening her horizons and finding it difficult to live a mundane life in a city like London where she is drawn back to a small and simple lifestyle in a town called Guernsey. I guarantee you that you will like the film for its simplicity, performances and most importantly Juliet’s thirst for always questioning everything. We all have a Juliet somewhere within us, I am sure, who wishes to discover themselves. Am I right or Am I right? ;)
I hope you enjoy the film :)
