A star-studded spoof period drama has confirmed its release date for the festive season. Cheekily titled Fackham Hall (try to say it quickly), the film takes a page out of beloved period dramas like Downton Abbey to completely subvert the rules of the genre.
Coming to cinemas on 12 December, the British comedy makes fun of polite society with incestuous innuendos, fart jokes and sweary puns.
Directed by Jim O’Hanlon (Your Christmas or Mine?), the story kicks off with a wedding, as so many period dramas do. It’s 1931 England and the Davenports of Fackham Hall are thrilled for the upcoming nuptials of Rose (Thomasin McKenzie) and Archibald (Tom Felton).
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“I’m just delighted she’s finally found the right cousin,” says Lord Davenport, played by Damian Lewis.
But Davenport’s best laid-out plans to save the family from financial ruin suffer a setback when charming pick-pocket Eric Noone (Ben Radcliffe) lands a job at the manor.
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The newcomer embarks on a secret romance with the rebellious Rose, risking upending her union with Archibald.
The dysfunctional aristocratic family in Fackham Hall also includes Katherine Waterston as Lady Davenport, Lizzie Hopley as Phyllis Davenport, and Emma Laird as Poppy Davenport.
Jimmy Carr plays the village’s vicar who can’t recite a sermon without one or two faux pas, while Anna Maxwell Martin portrays the stern housekeeper.
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“The British Film Industry does two things very well. Period drama and comedy. Now we didn’t have time to write two movies, so we’ve had to mash the genres together,” Carr previously said in a statement.
“I’m just slightly worried that if you say Fackham Hall in a posh English accent it might be misconstrued, hopefully that won’t be a problem.”
Director Jim O’Hanlon added: “Fackham Hall is that rarest of rare hen’s teeth – a genuinely funny, fiendishly clever period comedy which even on the page makes you snort your tea out of several orifices at once, whilst still making you care hugely for the young couple at the centre of all the madness.”
Fackham Hall is released in cinemas on 12 December.
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Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.Â
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).Â