Cider With Rosie

Marking the journey of young Lol as he grows from boy to man, the story chronicles first love, loss and family upheaval. Lol’s boyhood escapades take place in a rural world as yet untouched by electricity and cars - a place suspended between history and modernity.

Adapted by Ben Vanstone (Merlin, The Borrowers, EastEnders) and directed by Phillippa Lowthorpe (Call The Midwife, Five Daughters), Cider With Rosie is part of BBC One’s season of classic 20th century literature.

Cast
Samantha Morton - Annie Lee
Archie Cox - Laurie (Lol)
Ruby Ashbourne Serkis – Rosie
Emma Curtis – Marj
Jessica Hynes - Miss Crabby
June Whitfield - Granny Wallon
Annette Crosbie - Granny Trill
Billy Howle - Private James Harris
Timothy Spall - Laurie Lee (Voice)

Interview with Samantha Morton

Tell us about Annie
Annie is Laurie Lee's mother, a wonderful woman who works incredibly hard. She’s been in service, which gave her a huge sense of pride and a sense of how to do things a certain way. She tries incredibly hard, which can sometimes be stressful for her family. Annie loves her children very much, she loves both her own and her inherited children the same. Her relationship with Laurie is one of absolute love, but she also gives him a huge amount of space to grow, she isn’t too clingy. I think she's pretty amazing.

What is their life like in Slad?
It’s tough. They live at the bottom of Slad Valley, which is incredibly beautiful and bountiful - the land is very fertile.  But there is also poverty and flooding, things weren’t easy. 

Do you think she truly believes her husband is coming back?
Yes, I think she does. She wants to keep a good house, a good home, she hangs on to those moments of love at the beginning of their relationship. She lives through them, like they are her fuel, her life blood.

What attracted you to the role?
I’ve always been a huge fan of the book and the character of Annie is someone I’ve always admired. It was an opportunity to play someone that I indentified with as a mother, someone who hasn't always had things easy in life. I felt I understood elements of her, but there were also elements of her to be found. I’m also a huge fan of Philippa, the director, and I was pretty excited to get the opportunity to work with her on this project.

What was it like filming in Slad? Did it feel important? Did it present any challenges?
It was amazing as that is where it all took place. It's incredibly important for an adaptation of a book and it would seem insane not to film there if you can. Saying that, here were lots of difficulties, such as access to the cottage where we filmed, and the weather! I was breastfeeding my six month-old baby and we couldn't get a trailer near the set, so I was in a beautiful little hut at the bottom of the garden. It was some of the toughest filming conditions I've ever encountered. I didn't have to get a helicopter to work or anything like that but it was tricky terrain at the cottage.

Some of the actors are children, including Archie who in first role - what was that like?
Actors, whether you are a child, or an adult or an animal, we all work off each other, with each other, we listen to each other. Archie made me better by being as true to what he found in Laurie, which enabled me to go to other places too. I had an amazing time with all the young people, they put their all in. It's not easy being a child and doing long hours on a film set, but if you make it fun and interesting, then ultimately they are having the time of their lives. I cherish the times I spent with all those young people, they are so innocent and earnest. There are no games, they are just there to do it. That was one of the best bits for me.

You’ve said that Cider With Rosie is one of your favourite books, do you remember when you first read it?
Cider with Rosie is definitely my favourite book, I would have read it as a teenager!

Why do you think the novel is so well loved?
It's nostalgic, it's almost someone's diary! Nostalgia meaning that it is a time that has gone forever and it's been captured so beautifully and perfectly that you don't want the book to end. You want to be Laurie's friend, you want to be Annie or Rosie, a part of that world. It's a very special book and it's hard for writers to encapsulate moments in time as Laurie did. It's rare and special, and that's why I think people love the book so much.

Did you do any research in to the real Annie? Or Laurie’s life? Or the time period?
Not at all, I went from the book - it was my bible, my guide. It was all I needed to know and that's all I needed to trust.

What was it like working with Phillippa?
It was a joy. Hard work, because we didn't have a huge amount of rehearsal and it was shot very quickly. There were days when we needed one hundred extras and we had four! I loved her sincerity, her dedication, her purity and her respect. To work with a talent like Philippa in amongst the world of film is very rare, she's very special.

What can viewers expect from Cider With Rosie?
I haven't seen it yet and I'm not good at watching anything I do! From what I saw when I did ADR, which is the voiceovers, it looked incredibly beautiful and so moving. Very real. Not too 'chocolate boxy' but enough for it to delight the senses and recognise it's a period film.

CK

Related BBC Links

• BBC One