Review of Tamara Drewe (2010) by Marti H — 04 Apr 2011

How director Stephen Frears delivered an English comedy combined with such tragic overtones is difficult to explain. But he does a pretty good job of it. Tamara Drewe is a young, modern journalist who returns to her country English hometown with a beautiful nose after plastic surgery.

She is the main character, of course, but the supporting characters are so strong, one begins to almost forget Tamara to focus on Glenn, Nicholas and his wife Beth, as well as Tamara's young love interests, Andy the gardener and Ben the rock star.

Beth has created a writer's haven in her country home and on her property - providing a peaceful, serene setting for middle-aged writers to stoke their creative juices. In fact, the setting is idyllic with rolling green pastures, cows gently mooing in the backyard, and spacious skies.

However, Tamara Drewe shows up in short shorts one day and their picturesque world goes topsy-turvy. Well actually, their little world had been topsy-turvy before Tamara's appearance, but they just did not know it.

TAMARA DREWE is English comedy at its best - or perhaps at its worst - it depends on your view of British humor, and this plot about adultery and promiscuity. But it is the last quarter of the film that blows you entirely away.

A tragedy occurs - one you can certainly understand - but one you hardly expect. This jovial drama/comedy darts along at a good pace and then leaves you with your mouth hanging open. The sub-themes of love, envy and lust are almost secondary to the ingenious emotional rise from delight to the descent into repugnance and dismay.