

A woman during the Second World War opens her heart to an evacuee after initially resolving to be rid of him.
Acting
Gemma Arterton's prickly, vulnerable transformation
Cinematography
White cliffs of Dover as emotional landscape
Writing
Swale's debut script balances grief and warmth

Director
Jessica Swale
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Swale wrote the play of the same name first — the film expands Vera's role significantly, making the queer romance central rather than subtext.
The 'flying children' legend ties to real Kent folklore about lost souls crossing to the afterlife.