Juliet Ashton’s (Lily James, “Cinderella”) career is off to a frustrating start in the trailer for “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.” As a journalist, she’s not getting the stories she wants. As an author, she’s not getting the audience she wants. In fact, her first book only sold 28 copies worldwide. But a letter from Dawsey Adams (Michiel Huisman, “Game of Thrones”) might mark an end to her career woes.
“Finally, I’ll have something serious to write,” Juliet exclaims when Dawsey informs her of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, a book club that was formed in resistance to the Nazis during World War II. But getting permission to write the story of the club is easier said than done.
While the surviving members are warm towards Juliet, they don’t want her writing about them or their founder, Elizabeth McKenna (Jessica Brown Findlay, “Harlots”). It’s unclear what exactly happened to the outspoken Elizabeth, who is only seen in flashbacks, but it likely involved a tragic confrontation with German soldiers. “The war’s not over for them, not really,” Juliet observes.
Directed by Mike Newell (“Four Weddings and a Funeral”), “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” is based on Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer’s best-selling novel of the same name. Penelope Wilton (“Downton Abbey”) and Matthew Goode (“The Crown”) co-star. The pic hits UK theaters April 20. No word on a U.S. release yet.
