Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Isabel Coixet, Transmission Films, PG 113 Minutes
This dreary slow-paced period drama from Spanish writer-director Isabel Coixet (‘Learning to Drive’) is based on Penelope Fitzgerald’s acclaimed novel of the same name set in the sleepy English seaside hamlet of Hardborough in 1959.
The story focuses on the newly arrived Florence Green (Emily Mortimer –‘Spectral’) a middle-aged widow intent on opening a bookshop in the ‘Old House,’ a vacant dwelling, only to face fierce opposition from the vicious Violet Gamart (Patricia Clarkson –‘Maze Runner’).
Undaunted in pursuing her objective, Florence arranges for village schoolgirl Christine (Honor Kneafsey –‘Abducted’) to help establish her bookshop much to the chagrin of Gamart who then solicits her puppet, Milo North (James Lance –‘Estranged’), to cause Florence further havoc.
It soon becomes obvious that the conflict with Florence is due to Gamart’s obsession in transforming the Old House into an arts centre leaving some of the local townsfolk both bemused and hesitant to challenge her powerful position.
Refusing to submit to Gamart’s coercion, Florence proceeds to establish her bookshop, receiving her first order from the reclusive Mr Brundish (Bill Nighy –‘Their Finest’) with whom she forms a rare friendship.
In fact Florence recognises a kindred spirit in the eccentric Mr. Brundish who, besides denouncing the class conscious socialite’s conniving tactics, wastes little time in confronting Gamart at her home.
As the relationship between Florence and Brundish blossoms she doesn’t hesitate to consult him on selling such a scandalous literary work as “Lolita” resulting in somewhat of a backlash amongst the town’s conservative citizens.
When Florence eventually realises that she cannot counter Gamart’s many maneuverings following Brundish’s fatal face-to face confrontation, it is left to the precocious Christine to deliver the final blow to Gamart’s ambitious goal.
Fitzgerald’s famed book may have been well received by its readership but as far as Coixet’s adaptation of the film is concerned it falters by having a lacklustre storyline and taking too long to reach its conclusion.
Apart from its seaside settings the main enjoyment is derived from the interaction between the main characters (Brundish, Florence, Violet) especially the impressive performances from Nighy (excelling again in his role) and Clarkson, not to mention that of Kneafsey.
Vic’s Verdict: 2 ½ Stars
