The Bookshop
Emily Mortimer (The Party) stars in this small town drama as a woman who opens up a bookshop against stiff competition. For 1959 England, the move puts her in a politically prickly position. Written and directed by Isabel Coixet, co-starring Bill Nighy (Their Finest) and Patricia Clarkson (who led Coixet's Learning to Drive).
- Director:
- Isabel Coixet ('The Secret Life of Words', 'Learning to Drive', 'Another Me')
- Writer:
- Isabel Coixet
- Cast:
- Emily MortimerBill NighyPatricia ClarksonHunter TremayneHonor KneafseyJames LanceFrances BarberReg Wilson
Reviews & comments
Flicks, Adam Fresco
flicksSanish director Isabel Coixet (The Secret Life of Words and Learning to Drive) adapts Penelope Fitzgerald's novel with a great cast in a ho-hum film. It’s 1959 in the fictional English seaside town of Hardborough. Spirited widow Florence (a mischievous Emily Mortimer) turns a dilapidated old house into a bookshop. Despite the opposition of local shopkeepers, led by busy-body Mrs Gamart (brought to obnoxious life by Patricia Clarkson), the bookshop thrives.
The Bookshop- An Unusual Entry In Today’s Cinema
Penelope Fitzgerald’s novel gets a warm lyrical transfer to the screen in Isabel Coixet’s movie treatment. This somewhat gentle story of a widow (thoughtful performance from Emily Mortimer) moving to an English coastal town in the late 50 s - intent on opening a bookstore while facing heavy resistance from certain locals. It’s always beautiful to look at,...
Variety
pressA fine, sensitive leading turn from Emily Mortimer helps shore up these quiet, lightly dust-covered proceedings, but can't quite put "The Bookshop" in the black.
The Telegraph
pressCoixet's script is a long way off perfect, but it's the least of her problems; the second least is the film's dirge of a score, but even that's a bummer.
Screen Daily
pressIronically, given the subject, the script is stilted, with actors often stuck on pause and not even the silver-tongued Nighy able to coax more than a laugh or two from his lines.
Hollywood Reporter
pressIts subversive undercurrent, embodied in fine performances by Emily Mortimer and Bill Nighy, is what makes it really interesting.
FilmInk
pressNot to put too fine a point on it, but it does get you in, and has subtle strengths which are not initially apparent.
Flicks, Adam Fresco
flicksSanish director Isabel Coixet (The Secret Life of Words and Learning to Drive) adapts Penelope Fitzgerald's novel with a great cast in a ho-hum film. It’s 1959 in the fictional English seaside town of Hardborough. Spirited widow Florence (a mischievous Emily Mortimer) turns a dilapidated old house into a bookshop. Despite the opposition of local shopkeepers, led by busy-body Mrs Gamart (brought to obnoxious life by Patricia Clarkson), the bookshop thrives.
Variety
pressA fine, sensitive leading turn from Emily Mortimer helps shore up these quiet, lightly dust-covered proceedings, but can't quite put "The Bookshop" in the black.
The Telegraph
pressCoixet's script is a long way off perfect, but it's the least of her problems; the second least is the film's dirge of a score, but even that's a bummer.
Screen Daily
pressIronically, given the subject, the script is stilted, with actors often stuck on pause and not even the silver-tongued Nighy able to coax more than a laugh or two from his lines.
Hollywood Reporter
pressIts subversive undercurrent, embodied in fine performances by Emily Mortimer and Bill Nighy, is what makes it really interesting.
FilmInk
pressNot to put too fine a point on it, but it does get you in, and has subtle strengths which are not initially apparent.
The Bookshop- An Unusual Entry In Today’s Cinema
Penelope Fitzgerald’s novel gets a warm lyrical transfer to the screen in Isabel Coixet’s movie treatment. This somewhat gentle story of a widow (thoughtful performance from Emily Mortimer) moving to an English coastal town in the late 50 s - intent on opening a bookstore while facing heavy resistance from certain locals. It’s always beautiful to look at,...
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