<P> The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a 2018 historical romantic - drama film directed by Mike Newell and written by Don Roos and Tom Bezucha . The screenplay is based on the 2008 novel of the same name, written by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows . The film stars Lily James, Michiel Huisman, Glen Powell, Jessica Brown Findlay, Katherine Parkinson, Matthew Goode, Tom Courtenay and Penelope Wilton . Set in 1946, the plot follows a London - based writer who begins exchanging letters with residents on the island of Guernsey, which was under German occupation during World War II . </P> <P> A British and French venture, the film was distributed and financed by StudioCanal and produced by Blueprint Pictures and the Mazur / Kaplan Company . In 2010, development began on a film adaptation based on Shaffer's novel . Initially, Kate Winslet was announced as the lead, with Kenneth Branagh attached to direct . However, both dropped out in February 2013 . In October 2016, James signed on for the lead role, with Newell set to direct . The film entered pre-production in January 2017, with principal photography taking place across England from 23 March to 15 May 2017 . </P> <P> The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society premiered in London on 9 April 2018 and was theatrically released in the United Kingdom on 20 April 2018 and in France on 13 June 2018 . The film grossed $15.7 million worldwide and received positive reviews from critics . It was distributed in other international areas by Netflix on 10 August 2018 as an original film . </P> <P> In 1941, on the island of Guernsey, four friends are stopped by soldiers for breaching curfew during German occupation . When asked for their reason, they say they were returning from their book club, hastily named "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society", to avoid arrest . </P>

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