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THE BOOKSHOP
Spain, 2018, 113 minutes, Colour.
Emily Mortimer, Bill Nighy, Patricia Clarkson, Honor Kneafsey, James Lance, Hunter Tremayne, Frances Barber, Reg Wilson, Michael Fitzgerald, Nigel O' Neill, Harvey Bennett.
Directed by Isabel Coixet.
A title like The Bookshop seems a box office risk. With the closing of so many bookshops, with the reliance on Internet, social media, online books, the title seems, despite so many readers’ regrets, something of an anachronism.
However, Spanish writer-director, Isabel Coixet, is certainly an admirer of books. In 2007, she made a film with the evocative title, The Secret Life of Words.
While the director is Spanish, she has made quite a number of films in English, in the United States, in England. This one is very much in England, though the location photography for the British coast was done in Ireland.
The setting is 1959. Florence is a war widow, still grieving and unsettled but who now decides to fulfil an ambition to open a bookshop in a small town on the coast. She feels she is ready. She loves books. She has legal advice, she has financial advice. Could it go wrong?
The answer lies in a character of a local grande dame, exercising power in the town, seeing herself as the leader of the town. She is the wife of a retired general, Mrs Gamart. She is played, all stops out, as very British by American actress, Patricia Clarkson. While Florence had taken possession of an empty residence, The Old House, Mrs Gamart had intended the house to be used as a local arts centre.
The film shows Florence’s exhilaration in setting up the bookshop. She is helped in the store by a young local girl, Christine (Heather Kneafsey), quite outspoken, quite determined, but, as she says, not a reader, although she enjoys geography and maths. Another ally for Florence is the local recluse, Edmund Brundage, played effectively and quietly by Bill Nighy. Edmund makes contact with Florence and she supplies some books, getting him interested in the works of Ray Bradbury (especially Fahernheit 451 and the story of book burning) and asking his advice as to the literary quality of Lolita and whether she should stock it.
The atmosphere of this film is very British, old-style. And audiences who appreciate going back into the lives of 20th century Britain will enjoy this. The performances are excellent, Emily Mortimer charming and determined as Florence,Bill Nighy, Patricia Clarkson, Heather Kneafsey, all quite persuasive. There is a local cad played by James Lance.
The film is told in voice-over, the voice being that of Julie Christie. And, at the end, it is revealed who her character is.
As with so many British stories, there are bittersweet tones in the film which also make it engaging if sometimes saddening.
1. The title, the focus on books, readers, the imagination?
2. The adaptation of the novel, autobiographical? The 20th century, post-World War II, Europe? The English counties, the coast (and Irish locations)? The British coastal town, the coast and the water? Homes, shops, the familiar British setting? The musical score?
3. The narrative, the narrator, Christine speaking in retrospect? The voice of Julie Christie?
4. Introduction, 1959, Florence, her age, war widow, loving memories of her husband, meeting him at a bookshop, no children? A good character, strong, becoming a victim? The unhappy ending? Influencing the next generation and recording her memory?
5. Florence on the shore, reading, leaving her scarf behind, Edmund finding it and taking it? Her aim, using the Old House for the bookshop? Going to the bank, the teller, Mr Potatohead, the lawyer and his sinister look, no help? Mr Keble, the boat, helping with the plumbing, getting the shop ready, the advice, sending the scouts to help, getting the stock, setting up the shelves? Florence’s delight?
6. The invitation of the general and his wife? Florence getting the red dress, being persuaded of the car? At the reception, isolated, the general speaking to her, the delete wealthy citizens of the town? Mrs Gamart, her appearance, manner, with the guests? Wanting to talk to Florence? The issue of the Arts Centre – influence being advised to think it over (the implication that Mrs Gamart achieved what she wanted)? The meeting with Milo North and his suave manner, talking with him?
7. Florence determined, her set up, the note from Edmund Brundish, her sending him Fahrenheit 451 (and its significance about books, book burning, Philistines, reading, remembering stories and passages)? Wally delivering the messages? Christian’s mother and the invitation to visit, and a cake?
8. The shop established, difficulties, yet the customers coming? Christine and the interview, the best of the three sisters to work with Florence? The attitudes, intelligent, helping, but not reading? Maths and geography? Florence talking with her mother? Going to visit Edmund Brundish, wearing her red dress? Changing it?
9. The other books, sending more Ray Bradbury, the issue of Lolita and getting advice, his comment of the book, her buying 250 copies? And Milo North joking about Christine trying to sell it to the vicar? Christine and her admiring the Chinese tray, in Florence’s will – Florence giving it as a gift?
10. Milo North, a writer, Christine’s assessment of him and wanting to be like him to be more interesting, Milo talking with Florence, Cassie as his girlfriend, her leaving? His work in the shop? The double dealing, the documents and the difficulty of his health with the water in the basement of the shop?
11. Edmund Brundish, Florence coming to tea, the discussion, the cake, the truth about his wife the gossip in the town - her dying by drowning getting fruit to make him a cake? His not having seen her for 45 years? His regrets at not meeting Florence earlier?
12. Edmund coming to visit Mrs Gamart, the timing, control, her ideas, his accusations about her nephew and the influence of passing legislation about buildings, occupations? His severe but polite statements? Her reaction? His going outside, his heart attack, collapse, Florence and sadness? The funeral?
13. Florence to be ousted, the role of the lawyer, issues of finance, going to the bank man, issues of security, insurance, and insurance failing because of legislation? The water in the building unsuitable? Mrs Gamart getting her way?
14. Florence leaving, getting ready, the sadness, Christine with a copy of High Wind in Jamaica? And Christine setting the house on fire?
15. The final sequence with Christine, her admiration for Florence – but the regretful tone of the film?