52 Films by Women Vol 8. 11. Wicked Little Letters (Director: Thea Sharrock)
Still courtesy of Studio Canal (UK) Wicked Little Letters , a 1920s fact-based comedy about two neighbours who have fallen out, pits two acting greats against one another. In the blue corner, carrying one Best Actress Oscar for The Favourite and the good opinion of the British viewing public for a body of work on television ( Peep Show , Broadchurch, The Crown ) and cinema ( Tyrannosaur, Empire of Light ), wearing a demure toothy smile, Ms. Olivia Colman. In the red corner, talent show contestant turned forthright screen lead, a young woman more likely to say ‘bog off’ than boo to a goose, Ms. Wild Rose herself, Jessie Buckley. The title refers to poison pen letters – the mean tweets of their day – received by Littlehampton spinster and devout Christian, Edith Swan (Colman), whose father, Edward (Timothy Spall), a steaming brass kettle of a man, insists were sent by the Irish-born single mother next door, Rose Gooding (Buckley). After Edith receives the 19 th letter, which she reads ...