Between the Pages

This 2008 film is based on a Noel Coward play, which perhaps explains the quick, dry wit. Set in England in the 1920s, a young man named John Whitaker (Ben Barnes) brings home his new American wife, Larita (Jessica Biel). Her forthright attitude instantly upsets his mother Veronica (Kristin Scott-Thomas) and his two sisters Marion and Hilda (Katherine Parkinson and Kimberley Nixon respectively). Only the staff, led by the butler Furber (Kris Marshall), and John’s father Jim (Colin Firth) – who is struggling to adapt to life after the horrors he witnessed fighting in World War 1 – seem to warm to Larita. Although she tries her best to fit in with the family, Veronica in particular is determined to drive her away.

What a delightful surprise this film was! I expected an amusing comedy of manners, but this was far more than just amusing – several scenes were hilarious. However, there is also some poignancy and sadness, when we see how Jim has been affected by his war time experience, and his wife Veronica, who was once a happily married woman, is now disapponted in her marriage and her life, and is upset that her son – who she hoped would take over the running of their ailing estate – plans instead to move to London with his wife.

The cast are all perfect. I’ve seen some criticism of Jessica Biel as Larita, but I thought she did just fine, and certainly looked glamorous and beautiful. Katherine Parkinson and Kimberley Nixon are both excellent, as the sisters who are never given chance to blossom. Marion is fooling herself into believing that a man Edgar (who remains unseen throughout) will marry her, and Hilda clearly has a curious and quick mind, but her curiosity is stifled by her mother. Ben Barnes is terrific as the young bridegroom, but I really disliked his character – he was just such a wimp!!

Kristin Scott Thomas was reliably wonderful in her role, which is the type of part she excels at – icy cool, with tension simmering just below the surface. However, the real acting honours in this film must surely go to Colin Firth. This is actually my favourite of all the roles I have seen him in. He simply steals the show as Jim, who sees past the superficiality of his family life, and the false front which they put on to other people. He makes an effort to connect with Larita, and his standing up for her on several occasions clearly irritates his family.

There are too many great scenes to pick just one, but a couple of stand-out moments are the tango scene (and I’m giving away nothing more than that, except to say that I punched the air with delight), and the scene where Larita finds her own way of joining the hunt – at Veronica’s insistence – while still retaining her disdain at the very idea of foxhunting.

I won’t give away the ending, other than to say it was just about perfect. In fact, the whole film was just about perfect – a great comedy with a deeper message running through it. Highly recommended!

Year of release: 2008

Director: Stephan Elliott

Writers: Noel Coward (play), Stephan Elliott, Sheridan Jobbins

Main cast: Jessica Biel, Ben Barnes, Kristin Scott Thomas, Colin Firth, Kris Marshall, Katherine Parkinson, Kimberley Nixon