You are here:

The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society

Name: The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society
Director: Mike Newell
Released: 2018
Duration: 124 min

Representation Score

5.6/10

Fair

2018

TV-14

Director

Mike Newell

Runtime

124 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The film excels at challenging traditional gender roles by centering Juliet Ashton, a professional intellectual, as the primary driver of the plot. Her intellectual curiosity and career provide the narrative's momentum, moving away from traditional domestic roles. However, the production remains limited by its historical setting, resulting in a lack of diverse representation. The cast is largely homogeneous, reflecting the specific Anglo-centric demographic of post-war Guernsey. Ultimately, the film is a study of resilience and community-based resistance. It portrays how shared literature and social bonds can help a population withstand an oppressive, militaristic regime.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film follows a traditional structure that assumes everyone is straight or cisgender. There is no queer subtext or representation of non-cisgender identities in the central romance between Juliet Ashton and William Cellier.

How does The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society portray gender?

Good

Juliet Ashton is portrayed as a professional intellectual rather than a domestic figure. The story highlights the strength of women working together during the occupation.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society?

Limited

The cast reflects the homogeneous demographic of a 1940s Channel Island community. It focuses more on socioeconomic differences than racial diversity.

How does The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative uses the literary society to represent resistance against German occupation. It emphasizes communal bonds and shared struggles over individual pursuits.

Does The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society include disability representation?

Fair

The film explores the psychological impact of wartime trauma. It addresses emotional fragility without centering a character with a visible disability.

Present on Screen

Centers women's ability to drive the story through Juliet Ashton's professional and intellectual role.
Highlights women as architects of social resilience during wartime.
Explores the psychological dimensions of trauma and wartime upheaval.

Limited or Absent

Lacks LGBTQ+ representation or queer subtext within character arcs.
Limited racial and ethnic diversity within the cast.
Focuses narrowly on a traditional Western historical context.

Official Synopsis

Free-spirited writer Juliet Ashton forms a life-changing bond with the delightful and eccentric Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, when she decides to write about the book club they formed during the occupation of Guernsey in WWII.

How are these scores produced? →