Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley star in the Netflix film Wicked Little Letters, a twisted comedy that reunites the two actresses after their previous work together on The Lost Daughter. The film is an adaptation of a real-life drama that unfolded in 1920s Great Britain, where two women became embroiled in a scandalous affair that sent shockwaves throughout the country. The scandal began with the writing of foul-mouthed letters, which were unthinkable for a woman to write at the time. The local authorities got involved, and soon the whole town was abuzz with the news.
At the center of the controversy were Edith Swan, a coy and uptight woman, and Rose Gooding, a rowdy and uninhibited Irish migrant who was accused of writing the letters. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Rose is charged with the crime, but she is not the only one who receives these letters. Edith’s fiancé receives one that accuses her of adultery, leading to a brief suspension of their engagement. The Swans quickly accuse Rose of writing the letters, and she is imprisoned twice. However, a notebook with the same handwriting is sent to the police, proving that Rose couldn’t have written the letters.
Netflix film Wicked Little Letters (Image via Getty)
Despite the evidence, Edith is eventually caught and sentenced to prison. The motives behind her actions remain unclear, but the film provides a possible answer. Edith’s father, Edward, is shown to be emotionally abusive and uses religion to justify his actions. He is also responsible for Edith’s husband leaving her and for calling the child protection agency on Rose. The film is directed by Thea Sharrock and written by Jonny Sweet, and it adds elements to the true story, including the role of a determined policewoman named Gladys, played by Anjana Vasan.
Gladys is the only one who cares about the truth and asks the basic question of comparing handwriting. Her determination to seek justice helps to push the case forward. The film benefits from its added dramatic elements, which provide a wider scope of the lives of the two women involved. Rose is shown to be a caring and devoted mother, while Edith is portrayed as a woman who feels trapped in her life. The film also hints at Edith’s bisexual orientation and the emotional abuse she suffers at the hands of her father.
Wicked Little Letters is a humorous but human take on a mediated situation that has been largely forgotten. It rescues the story of these women from oblivion and translates it into a language that resonates with present-day audiences. The film is now available to stream on Netflix in the U.S.
