Emily Mortimer is the over-riding presence and the main reason to see Spanish director, Isabel Coixet's adaptation of Penelope Fitzgerald's 1978 novel about a woman's struggles to bring a bit of literary culture to an English town that badly needs it. No prizes for guessing Florence Green a childless war widow, may have chosen the wrong town in settling in the seaside town of Hardborough in the county of Suffolk with the aim of setting up a bookshop in a rundown property. She encounters opposition to her endeavour from the outset and despite succeeding in the venture in the short to medium term, opposing forces exist which threaten the long term existence of her book shop.
Have no doubt The Bookshop is not a "big film", full of dramatic impact. Rather it's a small-scale, quintessentially English village type tale in the nature of British TV series such as Doc Martin. Director Coixot brings a lovely sense of place to the film, despite the fact that some of the Spanish and Northern Ireland filming locations are far beyond Suffolk. No matter! The location cinematography is stunningly convincing and the late 1950's set and art design and costuming is outstanding.
The storyline is somewhat contrived. It just never seems clear why it appears so many of the town's inhabitants are non-supportive of Florence's efforts to open up a new business, which appears to be relatively successful upon beginning trading. In the interests of story flow we just seem to have to accept that one particular wealthy woman played by a suitably oily Patricia Clarkson, has seemingly infinite influence throughout the town, local government and even at a national government level. In my corner of the world the proletariat would be rallying behind Florence's cause, not opposing her. But I digress.
Mortimer beautifully embodies the calm stoicism and focused determination of Florence Green. She's even quite entrancing, just watching her listen to other onscreen characters addressing her, or at times talking about her. Bill Nighy is restrained in his interpretation of Florence's singular adult ally, Edmund Brundish, a remote, eccentric town elder, seemingly embittered at the general population for largely unspecified reasons. Mention has to be made of Honor Kneafsey who plays Christine, Florence's part time student assistant, who really gives a thoroughly engaging performance as a smart working class family product, ready to look out over the horizon and eager for new experiences.
Bibliophiles and connoisseurs of quality English period drama will find plenty to admire in The Bookshop.Not the least being the symbolistic highlighting of much of Ray Bradbury's work, such as Fahrenheit 451 with its book-burning firemen. This is a fine story of an independent woman of integrity attempting to implement a vision, against the forces of Philistinism lined up against her. I enjoyed the little twist of the tale in the final scenes, which clarify better the use of narration during the film.
Have no doubt The Bookshop is not a "big film", full of dramatic impact. Rather it's a small-scale, quintessentially English village type tale in the nature of British TV series such as Doc Martin. Director Coixot brings a lovely sense of place to the film, despite the fact that some of the Spanish and Northern Ireland filming locations are far beyond Suffolk. No matter! The location cinematography is stunningly convincing and the late 1950's set and art design and costuming is outstanding.
The storyline is somewhat contrived. It just never seems clear why it appears so many of the town's inhabitants are non-supportive of Florence's efforts to open up a new business, which appears to be relatively successful upon beginning trading. In the interests of story flow we just seem to have to accept that one particular wealthy woman played by a suitably oily Patricia Clarkson, has seemingly infinite influence throughout the town, local government and even at a national government level. In my corner of the world the proletariat would be rallying behind Florence's cause, not opposing her. But I digress.
Mortimer beautifully embodies the calm stoicism and focused determination of Florence Green. She's even quite entrancing, just watching her listen to other onscreen characters addressing her, or at times talking about her. Bill Nighy is restrained in his interpretation of Florence's singular adult ally, Edmund Brundish, a remote, eccentric town elder, seemingly embittered at the general population for largely unspecified reasons. Mention has to be made of Honor Kneafsey who plays Christine, Florence's part time student assistant, who really gives a thoroughly engaging performance as a smart working class family product, ready to look out over the horizon and eager for new experiences.
Bibliophiles and connoisseurs of quality English period drama will find plenty to admire in The Bookshop.Not the least being the symbolistic highlighting of much of Ray Bradbury's work, such as Fahrenheit 451 with its book-burning firemen. This is a fine story of an independent woman of integrity attempting to implement a vision, against the forces of Philistinism lined up against her. I enjoyed the little twist of the tale in the final scenes, which clarify better the use of narration during the film.