Tamara Drewe (film)
Encyclopedia
Tamara Drewe is a 2010 comedy film directed by Stephen Frears
.
The screenplay was written by Moira Buffini
, based on the newspaper comic strip of the same name
(which was then re-published as a graphic novel
) written by Posy Simmonds
. The comic strip which serves as source material was a modern reworking of Thomas Hardy
's nineteenth century novel Far from the Madding Crowd
.
The film premiered at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival
in May and was released nationwide in France on 14 July 2010. Momentum Pictures released the film in the United Kingdom on 10 September 2010.
. Tamara Drewe
, a young and attractive journalist, returns home with the intention of selling her now-deceased mother's house which she has inherited. Locals are amazed at the improvement in her appearance after she had a nose job while away. Andy had been interested in her when she was a girl, and when he sees her now it is clear he is attracted. Across the valley is a neighbour's house where authors stay to work on their stories, but the husband, Nicholas, keeps having affairs while his wife stays at home providing food and lodging for her patrons. At one point he embarks on an affair with Tamara, after she finishes with boy-band drummer Ben, whose dog Boss enjoys chasing cows. Andy has been asked by Tamara to work on the house so she can sell it, and he becomes aware of the affairs, as do two local schoolgirls (Jody and Casey) who cause some havoc by throwing eggs at cars and interfering with Tamara's emails. Jody 'loves' Ben and when he leaves Ewedown after the Tamara affair, Jody uses her wiles to lure him back, where she is found out and told-off. Meanwhile Beth, the jilted housewife running the writers' retreat, is befriended and then loved by one of her lodgers, and she easily persuades him to stay when her husband Nick is killed in an accident. By this time the true love of Andy and Tamara brings them together, Tamara deciding to stay in Ewedown after all.
. Most of the cast and crew were in attendance as well as Jack Gregson, Lily Allen
and Stephen Fry
.
The public premiere was also held on 6 September 2010 at the National Film Theatre. Most of the cast were in attendance as well as director Stephen Frears, screenwriter Moira Buffini, and book author Posy Simmonds. The film's showing received long applause and was followed by questions to the stars from the audience.
Lisa Mullen wrote in Sight & Sound
in September 2010:
Stephen Frears
Stephen Arthur Frears is an English film director.-Early life:Frears was born in Leicester, England to Ruth M., a social worker, and Dr Russell E. Frears, a general practitioner and accountant. He did not find out that his mother was Jewish until he was in his late 20s...
.
The screenplay was written by Moira Buffini
Moira Buffini
Moira Buffini is an English dramatist, director and actor.-Career:Buffini was born in Cheshire to Irish parents, and trained as an actor at the Welsh College of Music and Drama. For Jordan, co-written with Anna Reynolds in 1992, she won a Time Out Award for her performance and Writers' Guild Award...
, based on the newspaper comic strip of the same name
Tamara Drewe
Tamara Drewe is a weekly comic strip serial by Posy Simmonds published in The Guardian's Review section. The strip is based upon a modern reworking of Thomas Hardy's nineteenth century novel Far from the Madding Crowd....
(which was then re-published as a graphic novel
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
) written by Posy Simmonds
Posy Simmonds
Rosemary Elizabeth "Posy" Simmonds MBE is a British newspaper cartoonist and writer and illustrator of children's books. She is best known for her long association with The Guardian, for which she has drawn the cartoons Gemma Bovery and Tamara Drewe , both later published as books...
. The comic strip which serves as source material was a modern reworking of Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy, OM was an English novelist and poet. While his works typically belong to the Naturalism movement, several poems display elements of the previous Romantic and Enlightenment periods of literature, such as his fascination with the supernatural.While he regarded himself primarily as a...
's nineteenth century novel Far from the Madding Crowd
Far from the Madding Crowd
Far from the Madding Crowd is Thomas Hardy's fourth novel and his first major literary success. It originally appeared anonymously as a monthly serial in Cornhill Magazine, where it gained a wide readership. Critical notices were plentiful and mostly positive...
.
The film premiered at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival
2010 Cannes Film Festival
The 63rd annual Cannes Film Festival was held from May 12 to May 23, 2010, in Cannes, France. The Cannes Film Festival, hailed as being one of the most recognized and prestigious film festivals worldwide, was founded in 1946. It consists of having films screened in and out of competition during the...
in May and was released nationwide in France on 14 July 2010. Momentum Pictures released the film in the United Kingdom on 10 September 2010.
Plot
Set in Ewedown, a fictitious village in Dorset, EnglandDorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
. Tamara Drewe
Tamara Drewe
Tamara Drewe is a weekly comic strip serial by Posy Simmonds published in The Guardian's Review section. The strip is based upon a modern reworking of Thomas Hardy's nineteenth century novel Far from the Madding Crowd....
, a young and attractive journalist, returns home with the intention of selling her now-deceased mother's house which she has inherited. Locals are amazed at the improvement in her appearance after she had a nose job while away. Andy had been interested in her when she was a girl, and when he sees her now it is clear he is attracted. Across the valley is a neighbour's house where authors stay to work on their stories, but the husband, Nicholas, keeps having affairs while his wife stays at home providing food and lodging for her patrons. At one point he embarks on an affair with Tamara, after she finishes with boy-band drummer Ben, whose dog Boss enjoys chasing cows. Andy has been asked by Tamara to work on the house so she can sell it, and he becomes aware of the affairs, as do two local schoolgirls (Jody and Casey) who cause some havoc by throwing eggs at cars and interfering with Tamara's emails. Jody 'loves' Ben and when he leaves Ewedown after the Tamara affair, Jody uses her wiles to lure him back, where she is found out and told-off. Meanwhile Beth, the jilted housewife running the writers' retreat, is befriended and then loved by one of her lodgers, and she easily persuades him to stay when her husband Nick is killed in an accident. By this time the true love of Andy and Tamara brings them together, Tamara deciding to stay in Ewedown after all.
Cast
- Gemma ArtertonGemma ArtertonGemma Arterton is an English actress. She played the eponymous protagonist in the BBC adaptation of Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles, and starred in the feature films St Trinian's, the James Bond film Quantum of Solace, Clash of the Titans, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and Tamara...
as Tamara Drewe - Roger AllamRoger AllamRoger Allam is an English actor, known primarily for his stage career, although he has performed in film and television. He played Inspector Javert in the original London production of the stage musical Les Misérables....
as Nicholas Hardiment - Bill Camp as Glen McCreavy
- Dominic CooperDominic CooperDominic Edward Cooper is an English actor. He has worked in TV, film, theatre and radio, in productions including Mamma Mia!, The Duchess, The History Boys, and The Devil's Double.- Early life :...
as Ben Sergeant - Luke EvansLuke Evans (actor)Luke Evans is a Welsh theatre and film actor. He is known to theatregoers for his stage roles in Rent, Miss Saigon Small Change and Piaf, and to filmgoers for his roles in The Three Musketeers, Clash of the Titans, and Tamara Drewe.-Early life:Luke Evans was born and raised in Aberbargoed, a small...
as Andy Cobb - Tamsin GreigTamsin GreigTamsin Greig is an English actress principally known for two Channel 4 television comedy parts: Fran Katzenjammer in Black Books and Dr. Caroline Todd in Green Wing...
as Beth Hardiment - Jessica BardenJessica BardenJessica Barden is an English actress who was a regular cast member on Coronation Street.In 2007 it was announced that she would play the part of Kayleigh Morton on the ITV Soap Opera Coronation Street...
as Jody Long - Charlotte Christie as Casey Shaw
- John Bett as Diggory
- Josie Taylor as Zoe
- Pippa HaywoodPippa HaywoodPhilippa Haywood is an English actress who trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.Famous for playing the much-put-upon Helen Brittas in the BBC One comedy series The Brittas Empire, Haywood has an extensive television career which includes Julie Chadwick in the BBC Two comedy Fear, Stress &...
as Tess - Susan WooldridgeSusan WooldridgeSusan Wooldridge , is the daughter of British actress Margaretta Scott and composer John Wooldridge. She is also the sister of Hugh Wooldridge.She was born in London, England, and educated at convent schools....
as Penny Upminster - Alex KellyAlex KellyAlex Kelly is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Olivia Wilde. She is bisexual, dating both Seth Cohen and Marissa Cooper in the second season of the series.-Conception:...
as Jody's mum - Lola Frears as Poppy Hardiment
- Bosworth Acres-Debenham as a Shop keeper's assistant
Premiere
The premiere was held on 6 September 2010 at the Odeon Leicester SquareOdeon Leicester Square
The Odeon Leicester Square is a cinema which occupies the centre of the eastern side of Leicester Square, London, dominating the square with its huge black polished granite facade and high tower displaying its name. Blue neon outlines the exterior of the building at night. It was built to be the...
. Most of the cast and crew were in attendance as well as Jack Gregson, Lily Allen
Lily Allen
Lily Rose Beatrice Cooper , better known as Lily Allen, is an English recording artist and fashion designer. She is the daughter of actor and musician Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen. In her teenage years, her musical tastes evolved from glam rock to alternative...
and Stephen Fry
Stephen Fry
Stephen John Fry is an English actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, television presenter and film director, and a director of Norwich City Football Club. He first came to attention in the 1981 Cambridge Footlights Revue presentation "The Cellar Tapes", which also...
.
The public premiere was also held on 6 September 2010 at the National Film Theatre. Most of the cast were in attendance as well as director Stephen Frears, screenwriter Moira Buffini, and book author Posy Simmonds. The film's showing received long applause and was followed by questions to the stars from the audience.
Reviews
The film received mixed reviews. Empire gave four stars out of five stating the film was "Very intelligently funny, with stellar performances."Lisa Mullen wrote in Sight & Sound
Sight & Sound
Sight & Sound is a British monthly film magazine published by the British Film Institute .Sight & Sound was first published in 1932 and in 1934 management of the magazine was handed to the nascent BFI, which still publishes the magazine today...
in September 2010:
External links
- Official website (U.S.)
- BBC Film Network - Tamara Drewe interviews
- Screenplay at BBC writersroom