The Bookshop 2017

     The setting of this film is in England of 1959 and 1960.  It is based on a 1978 novel by Penelope Fitzgerald.  Florence Green has been a widow for a long time and her husband was killed in WWII.  She has not considered remarrying because she was so happy in her first marriage.  She opens a bookshop in a conservative East Anglian coastal Town.  Unfortunately, Florence incurs the wrath of wealthy Violet Gamart.  Violet would like the historical building where the bookshop is located to be a cultural center instead.  Violet has the money and political connections to have a new law written.  The law states that historical buildings can be taken from the owner to be used for the benefit of the community.  After an investigation of the soundness of the building, it can also be obtained with no money paid to the owner if problems are found?

      Florence has opened a wonderful shop and many people are enjoying patronizing the new business.  Edmund Brundish is a reclusive man in the community and he has been asking Florence to send him copes of books she thinks he would like.  Christine is a local schoolgirl and she has been hired to assist with the shop work.  Florence finds her personal resolve tested, a battle ensues for her shop and for the soul of this community!!  4 ½* (I loved this movie)

      

113 min, Drama directed by Isabet Coixet with Emily Mortimer, Bill Nighy, Hunter Tremayne, Honor Kneafsey, Michael Fitzgerald, Frances Barber, Reg Wilson, James Lance, Patricia Clarkson, Nigel O’Neill.

Note:  Imdb 6.5*, 54% critic 48% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 2*, Washington Post 3* out of 4* Michael O’Sullivan, Metacritic 62 out of 100 with 22 critics 7.4 out of 10 with 9 reviews, Common Sense Media 3* positive 3* role models 1* violence, 1* sex, 1* language, 2* drinking, drugs, smoking, The Guardian 3* out of 5* Peter Bradshaw, Amazon 3* out of 5* with 11 reviews, the book in paperback has 3.3* out of 5* with 205 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in County Down, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK; Bell Reco, Argentona, Castell de Godmar, Badalona, Catalonia, Spain.  In the ending scene, the cover of the book this movie is based on is seen among other books in the shop window.  Isabel Coixet’s screenplay won the Frankfurt Book Fair prize for Best International Literary Adaptation 2017.  This film also received 12 nominations for the XXXIIrd edition of the Goya Awards by the Spanish Cinema Acedemy.  Awards were won for Best Film, Director and Adapted Screenplay.  Julie Christie reads narration but she is uncredited.  The book that Christine is holding at the end scene is A High Wind in Jamaica by Richard Arthur Warren Hughes.