Emily Walters is an American widow living a peaceful, uneventful existence in the idyllic Hampstead Village of London, when she meets local recluse, Donald Horner. For 17 years, Donald has lived—wildly yet peacefully—in a ramshackle hut near the edge of the forest. When Emily learns his home is the target of developers who will stop at nothing to remove him, saving Donald and his property becomes her personal mission. Despite his gruff exterior and polite refusals for help, Emily is drawn to him—as he is to her—and what begins as a charitable cause evolves into a relationship that will grow even as the bulldozers close in.
Acting
Gleeson's gruff warmth vs. Keaton's fluttery determination—odd couple magic.
Cinematography
That hut looks disgusting and gorgeous simultaneously. Production design chef's kiss.
Director
Joel Hopkins
Diane Keaton
Emily Walters
Brendan Gleeson
Donald Horner
James Norton
Philip
Lesley Manville
Fiona
Jason Watkins
James Smythe
Simon Callow
Judge
Alistair Petrie
Steve Crowley
Phil Davis
Fyfe
Hugh Skinner
Erik
Adeel Akhtar
Donald's Lawyer
Rosalind Ayres
Susan
Deborah Findlay
Mary Neal
Will Smith
Leon Rowlands
Brian Protheroe
Rory
Peter Singh
Xavier
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Loosely inspired by real Harry Hallowes, who lived on Hampstead Heath for 21 years and won squatters' rights in 2005. The real hut was less cinematic, more urine.
Keaton and Gleeson had never worked together before this—she reportedly insisted on him after seeing him in 'The Guard.' Her taste remains immaculate.
US
GB
