The Bookshop (2017)
A quiet, defiant drama about one woman's dream to bring books to a town determined to resist her.
The Bookshop - Movie Information
- Original Title: The Bookshop
- Release Year: 2017
- Directed by: Isabel Coixet
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 1h 50m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English, French, Italian
- Release Date (Theatrical): November 10, 2017 (Spain - 12), August 24, 2018 (United States), September 14, 2018 (Canada - PG), June 29, 2018 (United Kingdom - PG), May 10, 2018 (Germany - 0), December 19, 2018 (France - U), March 22, 2018 (Brazil - 10), September 27, 2018 (Italy)
- Alternative Titles: A livraria (BR), 더 북샵 (KR), Букшоп (RU), La Librería (NL), La librairie de Mlle Green (CA), Sahaf (TR)
- Production Companies: Zephyr Films, A Contracorriente Films, Diagonal TV
- Production Countries: Germany, Spain, United Kingdom
The Bookshop - Plot
Set in a small English town in 1959, a woman decides, against polite but ruthless local opposition, to open a bookshop, a decision which becomes a political minefield.
The Bookshop - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see Florence Green's quietly courageous story come to life:
A town without a bookshop is no town at all.
Where to Watch The Bookshop
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The Bookshop - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Isabel Coixet
Main Cast
- Emily Mortimer
- Bill Nighy
- Patricia Clarkson
- James Lance
- Hunter Tremayne
- Honor Kneafsey
- Frances Barber
- Reg Wilson
- Michael Fitzgerald
- Nigel O'Neill
Writers
- Isabel Coixet
Producers
- Albert Sagalés
- Adolfo Blanco
- Jaume Banacolocha
- Joan Bas
- Chris Curling
The Bookshop - FAQs
Where can you watch The Bookshop online?
The Bookshop is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. It is also available to stream for free on Kanopy, a library-supported platform. Availability may vary by region, so check JustWatch for the most current streaming options in your area.
Is The Bookshop based on a true story?
The Bookshop is not based on a true story, but it is adapted from Penelope Fitzgerald's acclaimed 1978 novel of the same name. The novel is believed to draw on Fitzgerald's own experiences attempting to run a bookshop in Southwold, Suffolk, lending the story a semi-autobiographical quality.
Who are the main actors in The Bookshop?
The Bookshop stars Emily Mortimer as Florence Green, the determined widow at the heart of the story, Bill Nighy as the reclusive Mr. Brundish, and Patricia Clarkson as the formidable antagonist Violet Gamart. Supporting roles are filled by James Lance, Honor Kneafsey, and Frances Barber.
What is The Bookshop about?
Set in a quiet English coastal town in 1959, The Bookshop follows Florence Green, a widow who pursues her dream of opening a bookshop, only to encounter entrenched social resistance from local power brokers. The film is a meditation on courage, conformity, and the quiet radicalism of books.
Does The Bookshop have a happy ending?
The Bookshop ends on a bittersweet, melancholic note rather than a happy one. Florence Green is ultimately forced out of her shop by the machinations of Violet Gamart and a complicit local establishment. The film's ending is deliberately downbeat, faithful to Penelope Fitzgerald's novel and its unsentimental view of injustice.
Who directed The Bookshop?
The Bookshop was directed by Isabel Coixet, the acclaimed Spanish filmmaker known for her emotionally nuanced storytelling. Coixet also wrote the screenplay, adapting Penelope Fitzgerald's 1978 Booker Prize-shortlisted novel. The film marked a significant international production for Coixet, shot largely in Ireland and Spain.
How long is The Bookshop?
The Bookshop has a runtime of 110 minutes, or 1 hour and 50 minutes. The film's measured, unhurried pace mirrors the quiet, contemplative world of its protagonist and the small English coastal community in which the story unfolds.
Did The Bookshop win any awards?
The Bookshop performed strongly at the Goya Awards in Spain, winning three prizes including Best Film, Best Director for Isabel Coixet, and Best Adapted Screenplay. The film was also Spain's submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Oscars, reflecting its critical standing.
More About The Bookshop
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