"Tamara Drewe" a film set in the Dorset of Thomas Hardy, owes a lot to the author. Not only is he a presence, but he is the subject of a novel being written at the compound where authors retreat to work on the projects they are tackling. It is also a movie that is loosely based on a Hardy's novel, "Far From the Madding Crowd", a classic which was given its own cinematic treatment by John Schlessinger in the 1960s.
The couple running the literary retreat, Nicholas and Beth Hardiment, attract people working on novels. Nicholas is a crime novel author whose books are cherished by his many fans. Beth runs the house for him, cooks some incredible dishes, and keeps tabs on the accounts. In this mixture we find Glen, an American writer working on a book by Thomas Hardy. He is suffering from a block that does not let him go ahead. Nicholas loves to fool around, unknown to his wife. Andy Cobb is a sort of handyman helping with the chores in the farm.
Andy is from the area, his family home is now owned by Tamara Drewe, a local girl that grew up ugly with a horrible nose, but she went away to take care of that, and in the meantime became a celebrity on her own right. As she makes an unexpected appearance at the Hardiments, she stuns everyone with her looks.
To complicate things, there are two local school girls, Jodie and Casey, that hang around in the bus stop shelter. They are the eyes and the ears of the town. They know more for their young years than most of the older folks. Jodie and Casey will ultimately create such havoc in the lives of the older people, no one would suspect by looking at their innocent demeanor.
Stephen Frears directed this comedy that is supposed to be based on a graphic novel by Posy Simmonds, which we have not read. The screenplay is credited to Moira Buffini. This is a sunny English comedy that stands in contrast with many of Hollywood-by-the-numbers products. The film is witty and funny and light. The idea of adapting the work of a notable writer of classic novels into a delightful film speaks a lot of its director, a man who has not exactly distinguished himself for his work in comedies such as this one.
Gemma Arterton is Tamara, a beautiful creature that has overcome a fatal anatomical problem and now has blossomed into a gorgeous woman. Roger Allam appears as the narcissistic Nicholas. His wife is played by Tamsin Greig. Others in the cast include Dominic Cooper, Bill Camp, Luke Evans and two amazing young actresses, Jessica Barden, and Charlotte Christie.
"Tamara Drewe" is one of the best comedies in recent memory from England thanks to Stephen Frears.
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