Mild spoilers ahead
The story opens with Christian spinster Edith Swan (Olivia Colman) who lives with her authoritarian father (Timothy Spall) and subservient mother (Gemma Jones). Edith has been receiving anonymous, foul letters through her letterbox – one after another, relentlessly. As other locals also start receiving them, there is only one person everyone points to: potty-mouthed radical, Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley).
Rose Gooding is the outsider of the narrative. From Ireland, Rose moved to Littlehampton with her daughter for a fresh start. After being accused by almost the entire town, the police unhesitatingly send her to prison. However, police officer Gladys Moss (Anjana Vasan) feels there is more to the case. Believing Rose has been maliciously framed, Gladys Moss sets out to prove Rose’s innocence. The whodunnit mystery is rather short-lived as an over-the-top ‘G’ in the letters matches no other than Edith Swan’s handwriting. Although this predictable reveal didn’t quite have the dramatic punch intended, the real riveting aspect of the film was watching Gladys Moss and the local women of the seaside town join forces, concocting invisible ink to catch Edith red-handed.
The real riveting aspect of the film was watching Gladys Moss and the local women of the seaside town join forces
The film takes place in post-war Suffragette England, a time where women were breaking into male-dominated spaces. After taking on crucial roles in the workforce during the First World War and successfully achieving their right to vote, this film deals with the cultural shift in society as women gain agency. The social anxieties surrounding women’s growing independence are embodied by characters such as Chief Constable Spedding (Paul Chahidi) and Edward Swan (Timothy Spall).
With his script, Jonny Sweet transforms this true tale into a feminist plot through our leading ladies. The liberated figure of Rose Gooding not only stands her ground against social prejudices, but defiantly stands up for her female friends. Following in her late father’s footsteps, Gladys Moss is the first female police officer in West Sussex. However, what should be a great achievement is met with mockery, and her duty is reduced to making tea for her male colleagues. Yet she proves her capabilities through her unofficial investigation, defying her sexist superiors and bringing true justice to Rose Gooding. Edith is trapped in her very repressive life, dictated by a Victorian doctrine that is enforced by her father. When Rose asks Edith why she wrote the letters, Edith confesses to Rose that she doesn’t really know, but once she started, she couldn’t stop. The story comes to a satisfying conclusion as Edith finally tells her tyrannical father to f*ck off.
The berserk nature that the premise of the film promised was not as explosive as I had anticipated, but the movie is nonetheless a wickedly good time. A flawless cast, with performances by Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, and Anjana Vasan being nothing short of sensational. If you’re in need of some new insults, you’ll want to give this film a watch. But do note, if you’re going to frame someone for libellous letters, maybe change your handwriting.