Images courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
Director Thea Sharrock’s “Wicked Little Letters,” penned by Jonny Sweet, gives us a peek at a hilarious but true story from early 1900s Britain, all beginning with a letter.
There are actually quite a few letters, as the title suggests, all addressed to Miss Edith Swan. They are short, comically profane and anonymous—though the Swan family has an idea who the sender is. Edith (Olivia Colman) had previously tried to befriend the neighbor, Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley), an Irish immigrant whose foul mouth and disreputable lifestyle—her daughter has even been seen playing the guitar (gasp!)—has left her with very few friends.
Now, the police are involved. Given Rose’s boisterous, messy personality, they don’t need much in the way of evidence to convince them to arrest her—although Woman Police Officer Moss (Anjana Vasan) needs more evidence to convince her, as it makes objectively little sense for the culprit to be Rose. But Moss is not on the case, and her snooping gets her a warning from her superior. Naturally, Woman Police Officer Moss is not going to let that stop her.
What follows is a fast-paced, sharp and altogether delightful race to discover who the real culprit is before Miss Gooding is convicted in court. While the beginning of the film feels a bit expository (naturally, Edith tells the whole backstory to the police), the storytelling picks up as it goes, and while never straying too far from simple, “Wicked Little Letters” finds fulfillment in its characters.
The relationship between Edith and her father, played by Timothy Spall, is satisfyingly horrific, and the psychological damage that spins off of that brings an immediate likeability to Edith (small content warning for abusive parenting). And there is not a moment where the audience won’t be in love with Rose—a free spirit and quite sure of herself to boot. Colman and Buckley play against each other fantastically, and Vasan’s cool, shrewd composure is a great base to the heightened antics that ensue.
For a story revolving around a court case, it is inevitable that bridges will be burned and lives will be ruined, but “Wicked Little Letters” will have you leaving the theater with a smile on your face. Don’t miss this gem, coming to Midtown Cinema this April.
Midtown Cinema is located at 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.midtowncinema.com.
April Events At Midtown Cinema
Harrisburg Jewish Film Festival
“Remembering Gene Wilder” (2023)
Sunday, April 7 at 2 p.m.
Trivia Night
Midtown Cinema
Tuesdays, April 9 & 23
Down in Front! Comedy Riffing
“Birdemic: Shock and Terror” (2003)
Friday, April 12 at 9:30ish
3rd in the Burg Movie Night
“Hot Fuzz” (2007)
Friday, April 19 at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday Morning Cartoons
“Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax” (2012)
Saturday, April 20 at 11 a.m.
“Shrek” (2001)
Saturday, April 27 at 11 a.m.
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