WHO’S IN IT?
Gemma Arterton (Tamara Drewe), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Belle), Penelope Wilton (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel), Tom Courtenay (The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society), Lucas Bond (Slumber), Dixie Egerickx (The Little Stranger), Aoibhine McFlynn (film debut)
WHO’S BEHIND THE CAMERA?
Jessica Swale (film debut), director, writer; Guy Heeley (Locke) and Adrian Sturges (The Escapist), producers; Volker Bertelmann (Lion), composer; Laurie Rose (Stan & Ollie), cinematographer; Tania Reddin (Funny Cow), editor
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
As the Second World War rages across the channel, reclusive writer Alice (Arterton) finds her solitary life by the seaside cliffs in Southern England interrupted by young London evacuee Frank (Bond), who she has suddenly been entrusted to care for. Although she is at first resistant, it’s not long before Alice discovers that she and Frank share an unexpected connection…
IN ONE SENTENCE, WHY SHOULD YOU BE EXCITED?
Playwright Jessica Swale – who also made the viral short “Leading Lady Parts” which addressed sexism within the industry – makes her film debut with a whirlwind historical drama that takes one or two unexpected turns.