Cider with Rosie (2015)

A semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story set in the Cotswolds during and immediately after the First World War.

Director:

Philippa Lowthorpe

Writers:

Ben Vanstone, Laurie Lee (based on the book by)

Stars:

Timothy Spall, Samantha Morton, Georgie Smith

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Timothy Spall	...	Laurie Lee (voice)
Samantha Morton	...	Annie Lee
Georgie Smith	...	Young Loll
Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen	...	Frances (as Teddie Rose Malleson-Allen)
Dylan Turland	...	Young Jack
Georgia Brinkworth	...	Young Phyl
Emma Curtis	...	Marge
Bebe Cave	...	Doth
Shola Adewusi	...	Mrs Moore
Matthew Steer	...	Vicar
Annette Crosbie	...	Granny Trill
June Whitfield	...	Granny Wallon
Billy Howle	...	Private James Harris
Sarah Sweeney	...	Miss Buckley
Isabella Polkinghorne	...	Young Jo

Storyline

In 1918, with her husband working in the War office - and subsequently leaving the family - devoted mother Annie Lee takes her step-daughters and her own children to live in the idyllic Gloucestershire countryside, the youngest being the sickly Laurie, known as Loll. Here they witness two feuding matrons, Granny Trill and Granny Wallon and shelter a young army deserter hiding in the woods until his capture. At school Loll and his classmates are terrorized by the formidable teacher Crabby until hulking Spadge Hopkins literally puts her in her place. Far more important to Loll's schooldays are the captivating Burdock sisters, Jo and Rosie, and, as he grows into adolescence and beyond, eventually leaving home to seek his fortune, he samples the delights of cider with Rosie.

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Plot Keywords:

semi autobiographical | cotswolds | coming of age | death of sister | rural setting | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Laurie Lee on writing Cider with Rosie: "I shut myself up two years in the process of writing it. I was down there on the edge of the Fulham Road (London) with blinds drawn. Two solid years, my friends never saw me. I wrote it three times. I sort of carved it about and chopped it down and refined it, yes there was a lot of sweat to it." (Source: 1959 BBC interview)

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Goofs

The cycle that Laurie piggybacks on with his mother has a very modern brake lever, probably from a mountain bike, and cable brakes. At the time the film is set, the brakes would most likely have been connected to the levers by rods.

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Quotes

[Annie is upstairs nursing her new-borm baby. Jack goes up to see her]
Annie Lee: Hello, darling. How is everyone?
Young Jack: Oh, all right.
Annie Lee: You behaving yourself?
Young Jack: I've not broken nothin'.
Annie Lee: Good boy. What's everybody up to?
Young Jack: Marj is out in the yard, Doth's peeling spuds.
Annie Lee: What about the others?
Young Jack: Frances is cleaning her trolley and Phyl is sitting on the steps.
Annie Lee: What about our Lol?
[...]

User Reviews

Absolutely shocking

I'm sorry to be at odds with the other reviewer, but what a total shambles this was. I've given glowing reviews of An Inspector calls and the excellent go between, as well as a fairly good review of Lady Chatterley, but the final instalment of the Beeb's twentieth Century drama remakes was awful. I love Timothy Spall, but his narration was like scratching down a blackboard, after a while it became really irritating. The acting was woeful, truly the worst I've seen on a historical drama for about 20 years. Thank goodness for the 3 or 4 minutes that June Whitfield and Annette Crosbie were in it, they added a little humour and showed us what acting is. I hate knocking anyone for trying but some of the accents were so bad that at times it felt like all that was missing were The Two Ronnies sat at their allotment. 3/10 a total yawn fest.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 September 2015 (UK)

Also Known As:

Cider with Rosie

Filming Locations:

Slad, Gloucestershire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Origin Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD