Le Cercle littéraire de Guernesey

What contributed to my personal enjoyment was that it was a bit of an homage to Jane Austen (or maybe I just made that up there without it being the intention, but that’s okay, too). Jane, Elizabeth, Dawsey, which sounds like Darcy, Austen's work was in the bookstore when the reading group was stealing books, etc. I felt a bit like the film was suggesting that Victorian romance was gone, only to buckle and discard that statement in the end and make it as sweet as can be – nicely in the rhythm of a strong romantic heroine. The film doesn't really have any proper conflict, and it does show some hard moments, but it comes to the viewer in a gentle sort of way, in waves that crash against the boulders of cliché before they reach anyone's heart, so that the heart eventually blocks them out and they drown in the sea. Everyone likes each other, everyone is understanding, gallant, and charming. Plus, the story takes place above all in a beautiful setting, so the viewer doesn't even have to mind so much that they're watching a fairy tale when perhaps they wanted a dramatic historical romance. That’s something you’ll definitely never get out of this. And the moral? Germans are human, too. A mediocre 3 stars. (21/01/2019)

I've always had a soft spot for the English countryside, historical costume dramas and stories that could only be written by life itself, so this film with its long and bizarre title was perfect for me. While it's true that the plot is at times borderline romance novel, it's nevertheless told and acted in such an honest and straightforward way that you simply let yourself ride the waves of a story about love, the horrors of war, and the power of friendship wrapped in potato pie skins for a full two hours. In addition to the amazing performances by the cast, the film offers beautiful locations and a very strong story that made the onion concentration rise uncomfortably a few times while watching it. The trip to Guernsey was without doubt my cup of tea and it tasted absolutely delicious. P.S. The Downton Abbey ensemble rules! (20/03/2020)