Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley have been here before. Appearing together in 2021’s “The Lost Daughter,” for which each received an Academy Award acting nomination, these two women complement each other well. They are a super relatable dynamic duo.
In “Wicked Little Letters,” they have one hell of a time cussing each other out. Colman’s Edith Swan and Buckley’s Rose Gooding are neighbors in an English seaside hamlet called Littlehampton. The timeframe is immediately post-World War I. And the irony of such a wild feud sprouting up over a communal garden—well, therein lies the tragedy.
Viewers will quickly discern key differences between the two characters of Edith and Rose. Edith appears to do no wrong, while Rose never seems to get things right. And when things just aren’t right, Rose does not hold back. The woman likes to swear.
But even if you strongly dislike profanity, you will still enjoy “Wicked Little Letters.” Rose’s swearing is positively exuberant, all the while spoken in her wonderful Irish brogue. And the pile of letters Edith receives from an anonymous sender are chock-full of the most indecent imagination.
Frankly, Rose’s foul-mouthed fulminations when she is accused of sending the unwelcome correspondence are brilliant. They remind me of my long-running family reunion. F-bombs flew so freely at the absurdly competitive Flynn Family Olympics, I still feel somewhat scandalized by taking the Lord’s name in fecking vain way back when.
At the same time, Edith’s spewing of foul language is side-splitting given her prim and proper demeanor, not to mention she speaks the King’s English (i.e., George V).
As the anonymous letters become increasingly unhinged, townies suspect Rose. But the epistolary mystery is just beginning. It turns out to be more of a linguistry mystery, which the police department is generally ill-equipped to handle.
In this case, the “woman police officer” sees an opportunity to not only prove herself but also clear an innocent person. Of course, she has to deal with the screwball patriarchy first, which she is way ahead of anyway.
After enlisting some of the other villagers—all women—Woman Police Officer Moss gets to work. It doesn’t take her long to figure out what is really going on. And it all makes for a thoroughly enjoyable movie outing. Plus, it is all based on a bizarre true story, which you can read about in Christopher Hilliard’s “The Littlehampton Libels.”
“Wicked Little Letters” is playing at the Triplex. See it on the effing big screen!
