Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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Tom Mitchelson | ... | Tom |
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Alice Zawadzki | ... | Anya |
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Tom Yates | ... | Harry |
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Mike Kemp | ... | Albert |
Steven Elder | ... | Brendan | |
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Duncan Armitage | ... | Jason Grandage |
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Des Brittain | ... | Spud Collington |
Lesley Staples | ... | Mrs Summers | |
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Sharon Gavin | ... | Charlie |
Anna Scott | ... | Jane | |
Kate Terence | ... | Liz Collington | |
Ivan Kaye | ... | Sean | |
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Philip Herbert | ... | Bob Hardcastle |
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Tony Long | ... | Jack Partridge |
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Petina Hapgood | ... | Mary |
Tom, gardener at the big house, is not a fast mover with women. In fact he's glacially slow. When beautiful Polish au pair Anya arrives for the summer, Tom falls for her catastrophically like the felling of one of the giant trees he cares for in the manicured grounds. Tom's adviser in matters of the heart is young Harry, abandoned by the rich owners of the house to run wild in the gardens. Harry's secret wish is for the Red Arrows to appear at the village fair: Tom's is to win the heart of Anya. Both seem impossible dreams until the whole village decides to lend a hand. Written by Guy Browning
Tortooise in Love has a delightful back story about how the whole of a small Oxfordshire village came together to make the film, and many of the smaller parts are played by the villagers themselves resulting in many beautiful little cameo moments. This includes a cameo by the local MP Ed Vaisey who is now Britain's Film Minister.
The village provides a beautiful setting and the comedy element is there from the beginning. There is no sex, violence or nudity. Much of the humour is slightly suggestive or pantomime in style and is broadly based around approaches to courting which don't work out quite as planned.
The lead character is reminiscent of Hugh Grant and the film perhaps similar to Four Weddings and a Funeral or Notting Hill. The story of how it came to be made would be a film in itself. As a village resident and extra myself I admit an interest, but my kids age 10 and 11 were captivated throughout and having now seen it three times I still laugh out loud at many moments. Certainly a feel good film.