When Tamara Drewe (Gemma Arterton) returns to the village she grow up in to sort out her inheritance after her mother dies she leaves a wake of gossip, broken hearts and trouble in her wake. Gemma Arterton is delightful in this role, a true British movie star and one of our top exports to Hollywood. A rare thing. The film makes you long for a weekend, if not longer, in the countryside. Tamara Drewe was originally a graphic strip in The Guardian by Posy Simmonds, it then became a book before being turned into this luscious film by Stephen Frears.

It’s a brilliant ensemble cast, with Tamsin Greig and Dominic Cooper bringing in performances of note. Although some of the characters come across as unsympathetic, they have depth that is usually lacking in some big budget movies. The 50 something writer who runs a writers retreat with his put upon wife, the bored teenagers, the handyman making his way in the world (played by Luke Evans, who’s brilliant) none of them are ready for Tamara coming back as a femme fatale with a new nose and a successful career. It’s a lovely movie, definitely worth a watch.

Released on March 28thon DVD and Blue Ray from Momentum Pictures