The Bookshop (2017)

England 1959. In a small East Anglian town, Florence Green decides, against polite but ruthless local opposition, to open a bookshop.

Director:

Isabel Coixet

Writers:

Isabel Coixet (screenplay), Penelope Fitzgerald (novel)

Stars:

Emily Mortimer, Bill Nighy, Hunter Tremayne

14 wins & 33 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Emily Mortimer	...	Florence Green
Bill Nighy	...	Edmund Brundish
Hunter Tremayne	...	Mr. Keble
Honor Kneafsey	...	Christine
Michael Fitzgerald	...	Mr. Raven
Frances Barber	...	Jessie
Reg Wilson	...	General Gamart
James Lance	...	Milo North
Patricia Clarkson	...	Violet Gamart
Lucy Beckwith	...	Guest One
Nigel O'Neill	...	Mr. Deben
Jorge Suquet	...	Mr. Thornton
Harvey Bennett	...	Wally
Lana O'Kell	...	Ivy Welford
Adie Allen	...	Mrs. Traill

Storyline

England, 1959. Free-spirited widow Florence Green (Emily Mortimer) risks everything to open a bookshop in a conservative East Anglian coastal town. While bringing about a surprising cultural awakening through works by Ray Bradbury and Vladimir Nabokov, she earns the polite but ruthless opposition of a local grand dame (Patricia Clarkson) and the support and affection of a reclusive book loving widower (Bill Nighy). As Florence's obstacles amass and bear suspicious signs of a local power struggle, she is forced to ask: is there a place for a bookshop in a town that may not want one? Based on Penelope Fitzgerald's acclaimed novel and directed by Isabel Coixet (Learning to Drive), The Bookshop is an elegant yet incisive rendering of personal resolve, tested in the battle for the soul of a community.

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Plot Keywords:

bookshop | literature | 1950s | independent woman | narrow mindedness | 

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Taglines:

A town that lacks a bookshop isn't always a town that wants one.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some thematic elements, language, and brief smoking

Did You Know?

Trivia

On 28 December 2017, the film won 12 nominations for the Xth edition of the Gaudí Awards,including Best Non-Catalan Speaking Film, Best Direction, and Best Screenplay.

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Goofs

The Sea Scouts shown in the film, are wearing Cub Scout caps.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: She told me once: "When we read a story, we inhabit it; the covers of the books are like a roof and four walls: a house." She, more than anything else in the world, loved the moment when you've finished a book and the story keeps playing like the most vivid dream in your head.
[seagulls cawing]

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Soundtracks

Social Event
Written, Arranged and Performed by John Scott (as Johnny Scott)
From the album "Classic Film & TV 3: Radio Times"
Courtesy of Bruton Music Library Limited

User Reviews

I enjoyed this movie thoroughly.

I have never bothered to write a review before so here it is. A young widow of 16 years pursues her dream of owning and operating a bookshop in a fictional village, Hardbourough, Suffolk, UK.. She, Mrs. Green, is a woman of integrity, (Emily Mortimer). We come to know her by how she treats others and the developing relationships she has in this new town of hers. The young people of the story, Christine, the young local girl working in the bookshop, even though she doesn't like to read. The young boy, Wally, running errands and delivering correspondence from Florence to Mr. Brundish (Bill Nighy). They come to admire Florence Green, seeing her courage as she goes against the wishes of the local socialite, Violet Gamart. (Patricia Clarkson) . Violet is a nasty piece of work invoking a deep disdain in ones emotions. The story is full of examples of strength of the human spirit and how good eventually overcomes wickedness in unpredictable ways. The last scenes make the entire film worth watching,(a tad slow I'll admit) , until you get there and unexpectedly see how this charming story delightfully ends.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan] Official website

Country:

UK Spain Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 August 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Bookshop

Filming Locations:

UK

Box Office

Budget:

$5,400,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$75,736, 26 August 2018

Gross USA:

$1,588,150

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$12,055,868

Company Credits

Production Co:

Diagonal TV, A Contracorriente Films, Green Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1