Tamara Drewe 2010

Comedy

Box Office

$12M

Runtime

111 min

Language

English

Directed by

Stephen Frears

Made by

Sony Pictures Classics

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Tamara Drewe Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Tamara Drewe (2010). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

In the fictitious Dorset village of Ewedown, Tamara Drewe Gemma Arterton, a young and beautiful journalist, returns home after living in London with the intention of selling her deceased mother’s house, where she grew up. Locals are amazed at the improvement in her appearance after she had rhinoplasty while away. Andy still sees her as the girl she once was, and his quiet longing threads through the town as Tamara settles back into the rhythm of village life.

Soon, she begins a relationship with Ben, Luke Evans, a rock-band-drummer she meets at a village music festival, adding a spark to the local scene and stirring old feelings. The affair introduces friction and curiosity among the villagers, even as Tamara navigates her own emotions and the practical task of reassembling a life she left behind.

Across the valley lies a neighbor’s home that doubles as an authors’ retreat. The owner, Nicholas, Dominic Cooper, is a prolific crime novelist and a serial philanderer, while his wife Beth provides food, lodging, and encouragement for patrons who spend quiet hours there. After Beth discovers an affair with Tamara—an affair Nicholas ends—he then embarks on a new affair with Tamara, who, by that time, has begun to pull away from Ben. Andy is enlisted by Tamara to work on the house so she can sell it, and he becomes aware of the tangled relationships, as do two local teenaged schoolgirls, Jody and Casey, who stir up trouble driven by jealousy of Tamara’s relationship with Ben.

Jody becomes infatuated with Ben and distraught that she won’t see him in the village again, since he left Ewedown after Tamara and Ben’s split. She manipulates him into returning, and her deceit slowly unravels. Meanwhile, Nicholas and Tamara’s affair is revealed, casting a shadow over the retreat. In a strange twist of fate, Nicholas is accidentally killed by stampeding cows, a moment that reverberates through the tight-knit community. Beth’s friend Glen, a Thomas Hardy scholar who has harbored feelings for her for months, reveals his love for Beth, even as he grapples with guilt over Nicholas’s demise following a tense confrontation.

Beth manages to persuade Glen to stay at the retreat with her, choosing companionship over isolation. As the dust settles, the enduring bond between Andy and Tamara emerges as the true connection that endures, and Tamara decides to remain in Ewedown, embracing a life that feels more real and grounded than the one she left behind. The village moves forward with new respect for complicated relationships and the quiet, stubborn hope that love can find its own path amid the hedgerows and hills of Ewedown.

Tamara Drewe Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Tamara Drewe (2010) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Tamara returns to Ewedown to sell her mother's house

Tamara Drewe returns from London to the Dorset village of Ewedown with the intention of selling her deceased mother's house. Locals are surprised by her newly enhanced appearance after a rhinoplasty. She sets about re-establishing herself and preparing the house for sale.

start of story Ewedown, Dorset

Tamara meets Ben at a village music festival

At a village music festival, Tamara rekindles her attraction to rock-band drummer Ben. Their chemistry is evident as they begin a romantic relationship. The festival scene marks the start of Tamara's entanglement with someone in the village.

during festival Ewedown village

Tamara hires Andy to work on the house

Tamara asks Andy to work on her mother's house so she can sell it. He begins a working relationship with her and spends time at the property. The arrangement foreshadows later tensions as the social circle becomes entangled.

early in return Tamara's mother's house, Ewedown

Tamara and Ben's relationship ends

Tamara and Ben's romance falters and ends, prompting Ben to leave Ewedown. The breakup reshapes the local dynamics and prepares the ground for Tamara's next affair. The village watches as Tamara navigates changing relationships.

after festival Ewedown

Tamara begins an affair with Nicholas

After Ben's departure, Tamara begins an affair with Nicholas, the prolific crime novelist living at the neighboring retreat. The relationship brings scandal and intoxicating danger to Tamara's stay in Ewedown. Rumors begin to swirl through the village as the two become more involved.

after Ben's departure Nicholas's authors' retreat, Ewedown

Jody and Casey escalate their mischief

Jody and Casey, two local teenage girls, grow jealous of Tamara's relationship with Ben and stir up trouble around the village and the retreat. Their meddling reveals the fragility of Tamara's standing in the community. The girls' actions heighten tensions and broader gossip.

during Tamara's affairs Ewedown village

Jody manipulates Ben into returning

Feeling left out, Jody manipulates Ben into returning to the village after his departure. Her plan increases the drama surrounding Tamara and the central social circle. The move ties Ben back to Ewedown and to Tamara in a more complex way.

after Ben's departure Ewedown

Deceit is uncovered

Jody's deceit is uncovered, exposing her manipulation of Ben. The discovery compounds the strain on Tamara's relationships and intensifies village gossip. The incident underscores how the young girl's actions pull the community into the affair's consequences.

revelation moment Ewedown

Tamara and Nicholas's affair is revealed

Tamara and Nicholas's affair comes to light, shocking villagers and friends alike. The revelation intensifies the scandal surrounding the retreat and Tamara's choices. It precipitates a cascade of reactions from those close to Tamara and Nicholas.

after Jody's deceit is revealed Ewedown and Nicholas's retreat

Nicholas dies in a stampede

In a strange turn of events, Nicholas is killed by a stampede of cows after a confrontation. The accident shocks the village and forces the characters to confront the consequences of indiscretion. The tragedy marks a turning point in the mood at the retreat.

after confrontation near the retreat, Ewedown

Glen confesses his love for Beth

Beth's friend Glen, a Thomas Hardy scholar, confesses his love for Beth. He wrestles with guilt over Nicholas's death and the tangled feelings in the retreat. Beth faces a choice about whether to pursue the budding romance or protect the balance of the house.

after Nicholas's death Beth's residence/retreat

Beth asks Glen to stay at the retreat

Beth persuades Glen to remain at the retreat with her, choosing companionship over leaving. The two begin to settle into a new arrangement, softening the emotional upheaval. The stay helps reshape the social fabric of the village.

after confession The authors' retreat

Tamara and Andy reconcile; Tamara stays in Ewedown

Ultimately Tamara's relationship with Andy deepens, and she decides to stay in Ewedown. The couple's bond provides a sense of resolution amid the previous chaos. Tamara commits to making a life in the village she once tried to escape.

finale Ewedown

Tamara Drewe Characters

Explore all characters from Tamara Drewe (2010). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Tamara Drewe (Gemma Arterton)

Tamara is a striking, returning journalist who stirs the village with her renewed appearance and complex romantic entanglements. She must navigate desire, loyalty, and reputation as she contemplates where she truly belongs. Her choices drive the story’s tension between appearances and authenticity.

💫 Protagonist 📚 Journalist 💖 Complex relationships

Ben (Luke Evans)

Ben is a rock-band drummer who becomes Tamara’s initial love interest. His carefree charm and passionate involvement with Tamara set off a cascade of jealousy and rivalry in the village. His departure after their split fuels the ensuing complications.

🎸 Musician 💔 Romantic interest 🔥 Charismatic

Nicholas (Dominic Cooper)

Nicholas is a prolific crime novelist and serial philanderer who begins an affair with Tamara after her and Ben’s relationship ends. His dramatic vanity and self-centered maneuvers contribute to the village’s moral tensions, and his demise following a confrontation marks a pivotal turning point.

🖊️ Writer 💔 Philanderer 📈 Ambitious

Tamara Drewe Settings

Learn where and when Tamara Drewe (2010) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

Modern day (late 2000s)

Set in contemporary England, the events unfold in a present-day rural village. Relationships and reputations are tested against a backdrop of social gatherings, a writers’ retreat, and a music festival. The timeframe highlights modern attitudes toward romance, appearance, and gossip.

Location

Ewedown, Dorset

The story unfolds in the fictitious Dorset village of Ewedown, a tight-knit rural community with a writers’ retreat on the hillside and a nearby countryside backdrop. A village music festival and local social scene drive romantic entanglements and petty rivalries. The setting emphasizes intimate relationships, gossip, and the quiet drama of everyday life in a small town.

🏡 Village life 🗺️ Rural setting 🧭 Dorset

Tamara Drewe Themes

Discover the main themes in Tamara Drewe (2010). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

💞

Appearances

Tamara’s enhanced look and confident presence alter how others perceive her, revealing how charm and appearance can shape desire. The film scrutinizes the tension between outer beauty and inner truth, showing that attraction often hinges on image as much as on character. Characters navigate how much they value surface allure versus genuine connection.

🗞️

Gossip

Small-town life amplifies rumors and social scrutiny, turning personal choices into public spectacles. The village becomes a web of whispered judgments that influence decisions and relationships. Gossip drives tension, reshaping loyalties and triggering confrontations.

⚖️

Consequences

Affairs and jealousy create a chain of consequences that disrupt friendships and raise questions of loyalty. The plot culminates in events whose fallout reshapes the village dynamics and individual lives. The narrative suggests that actions carry weight, even in a seemingly light, romantic comedy.

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Tamara Drewe Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Tamara Drewe (2010). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In the rolling hills of Dorset, the quiet village of Ewedown awakens to the unexpected return of a strikingly beautiful journalist. Tamara Drewe arrives with the practical goal of sorting out her late mother’s house, yet her renewed confidence and city‑slicked style instantly ripple through the close‑knit community. The countryside setting, with its hedgerows and sleepy pubs, feels both timeless and slightly askew, setting the stage for a modern retelling that hums with the charm of classic English literature while pulsing with contemporary wit.

Among the locals, Andy—the boy‑next‑door who never quite left his youthful affection behind—finds his routine gently upended by Tamara’s presence. Meanwhile, a lively village music festival introduces Ben, a charismatic drummer whose rock‑star energy contrasts sharply with the bucolic backdrop, promising a spark that could ignite more than just a tune. Across the valley, an authors’ retreat draws its own colourful personalities: Nicholas, a prolific crime novelist whose restless imagination mirrors the tangled affections of the village, and his supportive wife Beth, who keeps the doors open for wandering writers and weary souls alike.

The film’s tone balances razor‑sharp humor with a warm, observant eye on human folly. As Tamara settles into the rhythm of rural life, the seemingly placid world of Ewedown proves fertile ground for whispered attractions, artistic ambitions, and the occasional clash of old‑fashioned expectations with new‑found desires. The presence of a dedicated Thomas Hardy scholar, Glen, further layers the narrative with a quiet intellectual current, hinting at deeper connections beneath the surface.

Together, these characters weave a tapestry of flirtation, creative longing, and understated drama, all set against a sun‑dappled landscape that feels both idyllic and ripe for mischief. The story promises a delightful exploration of how one woman’s return can stir dormant passions, reshape aspirations, and reveal that even the most tranquil countryside harbors a rich undercurrent of sentiment and surprise.

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