Lovely Movie
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society review by JD
What an excellent adaptation of this popular best selling book.
Exciting love story that is based on historic facts which are sometimes upsetting to hear about, but important to appreciate what the local residents had to endure when the Germans invaded their island in the Second World War.
The acting is first class, as are the locations.
6 out of 6 members found this review helpful.
A most enjoyable film - well worth viewing.
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society review by George
We cannot agree with review number 1, but our reaction to the film was very much as review 2. This did portray life under the Nazis, we were shown slave labour, people were starving, a young woman was shot and always what happened in WW2 was coming back to haunt the characters. We also had the illicit love affair of a local young woman and a decent German officer. She was deported to the Ravensbruck Concentration Camp where she was shot, protecting another prisoner. He was posted, but his boat was torpedoed and he drowned. My wife and I have been to Guernsey and visited the Occupation Museum, which is very moving.
George Roby.
3 out of 3 members found this review helpful.
Twee
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society review by JR
As twee as its title, this is romantic fiction but lacking in any chemistry between the leads. The dark history of the Nazi occupation of Guernsey is relegated to the background in favour of un-funny 'quirky' characters, pretty scenery and pretty dresses.
2 out of 6 members found this review helpful.
Old storyline but very nicely done
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society review by BB
The conclusion was obvious quite early on but that did not spoil the enjoyment which came principally from the strong performances of the small cast of accomplished actors. Loved penny Wilton and Tom Courtenay and Matthew Goode was a marvellous foil for the heroine. Nearly 80 years on,these WW2 dramas are caught between the fast paced, loud rude and digitally frustrating modern world and the innocent costume dramas depicting life over 150 years ago. WW2 War films can still draw an audience but these dramas with heavy Nazi overtones are a turn off to many I suspect, although the film did not try to dwell too deeply on this aspect. The story focussed on the romance with the contemporary setting plausibly explaining the reason for the story. Sufficiently enjoyed and entertained to decide to spend 10 minutes recommending it here
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
Brit flicks do it well
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society review by NC
Nearly a 4, but do tend to go along with the lack of dynamics with the lead characters. No real frisson there. However, well photographed, and once again for Brits, excellent scene production. Amazing detail of streets and homes. Mass of effort gone into that. Plus proficient acting by line-up with no weak links.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
An original and sincere film
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society review by AS
A delight to watch this beautifully made drama -- it showed that individuals who put their search for truth as a high priority can succeed!
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Not such a bad film but NOT Guernsey!
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society review by PB
I won't repeat what other have said but just add that I was disappointed by the decision not to shoot on Guernsey which has a very distinctive appearance and to give it credit, is pretty well preserved from those days.
If they had, there would have been a greater sense of the claustrophobia that occupation must have brought - Devon made the place seem vast - and the physical structures such as fortifications (both German and Napoleonic) would not have had to be CGI'd in.
I understand that the filmmakers took the 25% tax credit available from HMRC into account.
Amusing that the Guernsey official tourism website does all but claim it was shot on the island. Good for them! Although anyone turning up and hoping to spot shooting locations will have to make do with real history instead.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Fluffy
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society review by HM
Amusing not quite a rom-com tale set in a post war Channel Ilse. Enjoyable but lacking zest. I didn't really warm to the main characters and the ending was hardly a surprise being a stock in trade. OK but a little hum drum.
0 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Sweet if a bit forgettable
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society review by JK
For me, the most important point the film raised was that not all Germans were Nazis. Sadistic bullies can come from any race.
It was all pleasant enough and without dwelling too much on the plight of either the 'slaves' brought in to construct the 'pill boxes' and the occupied Guernsey residents who were all but forgotten on mainland Britain it packed an historic punch.
The leads were rather wishy-washy but it was eminently watchable.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.
Strange without any soul
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society review by CM
Found this an odd film as it was about the Nazi occupation of Guernsey but there was not a single shot in this film that was filmed in Guernsey, consequently found it completely unbelievable, Guernsey and the Channel Islands had a bad war but that would not have been apparent from this movie; with the exception of the small scene of the forced labour, the rest of the time it seemed completely fine. Just never sure what it was meant to be - a love story - war film - charming "British" film? So for all the above a disappointing watch; there were some nice cameos from Penny Wilton & Tom Courtney but that doesn't make a film.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.