The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society: A Film Review

“If books do have the power to bring people together…” -Juliet Ashton

This brings volumes of truths to book lovers alike but also to bring about a point of this film. Though technically you can blame it all on a roast pig. 

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is based on the book written by the late Mary Anne Shaffer and her niece Annie Barrows. This New York Times #1 best seller became a Netflix film in 2018. Starring Lily James, Michiel Huisman, Jessica Brown Findlay, Matthew Goode, Glen Powell, and several other renown actors; this film astonished me in more ways than one. I didn’t know there was a book. Of course there should be given the amount of information and detail to the story! This group of people formed one night during World War Two as the Nazis had occupied Guernsey Island. This is the only British soil (and other smaller nearby islands) that they did manage to occupy in history. 

Dawsey (Huismann), Eben (Tom Courtenay), Isola (Katherine Parkinson), Elizabeth (Findlay) all one night were out after having a roast pig at Amelia’s (Penelope Wilton). They were returning home after curfew and stopped by the Nazis. What should have been trouble for this group became something that you would pull out of a rabbit’s hat. Elizabeth told the Commandant that they were leaving late because they had just finished their book club society. As he asked the name of the society, they came up collectively with the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. They were saved and had to officially form this book club from then on. 

This story became known to author Juliet Ashton (James) when Dawsey Adams sent her a letter asking about her and if she could send him more information on Charles Lamb in 1946 after the war was over. He had found her book when the society started. Her address was written in the book. They corresponded for a long while. In the meantime, Juliet was to do book tours for her popular satirical war essays. Her supporting, hilarious publisher Sidney Star (Goode) was hesitant for her to learn more and go to the Island. Juliet also  had a romantic encounter with Markham Reynolds Jr (Powell) who played a sure of himself, a bit boastful romantic interest. However, Juliet wanted to learn more about the Island and the Society. This was something she had to do. No matter what the cost. The island called to her. 

Juliet learned more secrets about Elizabeth that I will not include, except she does have a small daughter named Kit. More stories seem to surround Elizabeth who seemed to be the glue that kept this group together. As Juliet also enjoys the meetings the society brings; imagine a spirited shouting match about explaining the meaning of the book and significance in life. The spirit of the Island begins to change her in more ways than one. She experiences things a writer is longing for and one’s soul. 

This line from Dawsey, brings it really home that “our private book club became a refuge for us. A private freedom to feel the world growing darker all around you, but it needs only a candle to see new worlds unfold.” As the occupation lasted five years, the book club held onto each other and while food became scarce Dawsey told Juliet “We were all hungry, but it was Elizabeth who realized our true starvation… For connection, the company of other people, for fellowship. We all know each other but it was Elizabeth who we had in common. She brought us together and for a few hours we forgot about the occupation and we remembered our humanity.”

That is something that we as humans want, a connection, whether it be just a simple hello and a chat to a stranger or a friend who you haven’t seen in a long while. I can imagine for a lot of people with the pandemic still fresh in our minds, that the want of connection to a physical one is something that was sorely needed. We took advantage of that until the lockdown forced us to seek other avenues to entertain ourselves or learn how to connect with others again in a different way. The Guernsey Islanders all learned to cope in many ways to survive the war. But they in the film and in real life all had a lasting impact on their lives. This film and book are works of fiction but a lot of history was shown in little scenes in the life of the occupation. 

This brilliant film was directed by Mike Newell who also directed Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Great Expectations and other fantastic films. The breathtaking views of various locations, not of the actual Guernsey Island, will still make you in awe. Due to Guernsey Island being more modern, filming had to be done elsewhere but the Island is very proud of the fact that they were part of a book and film. You can check out Visit Guernsey movie site to take a peek at what it has to offer.

The other locations west of England that were chosen were just spot on and transfixes you to another world filled with simpler times, beauty and nature. I have watched this movie several times and I am still mesmerized. Once I read the book, I actually could hear all the actors’ voices in my head and imagine all the same scenes as I read page by page and I was still just as lost in a great way. The present day and flashbacks were done seamlessly and you could follow along easily.  This is one of the ways that I believe movies should sometimes be watched first. Granted that there were various licenses taken for artistry, the plot remains pretty much the same. Read my upcoming book review when you get a chance. 

You should watch this film on Netflix today or purchase it on DVD. You can also read this book that I recently read that the film is based on. It can be purchased from Bookshop.org and you can immerse yourself into a world where books take hold of you and make a lasting impact on your life.

World War II still bears its scars on many European and Asian countries. When the Island heard they were going to be occupied, they had to take the children and any other adults to safety in London. The Island was occupied for five years and both the Islanders and the Nazis did starve as food and other supplies became scarce. Imagine not having enough food or soap to have for something that we take for granted. 

The Historic UK site gives a thorough history of the Guernsey Island occupation, including its bombing at St. Peter’s Port; the Germans thought that tomato lorries were a convoy for troop carriers. There were actually five islands that the Nazis decided it was strategic to take. It was set between France and England. What better way to hit England than be closer to its doorstep.  But the cost of invading such an island was high in more ways than one. If you want to see the other locations that the film shot at, visit Solo Sophie and take a magical journey to these beautiful towns that seem as if time has stood still.

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