Film Review - Quintessentially British (2022)

In a different quintessentially British film, a quintessentially British actor gives a speech in which he lists some quintessentially British things – “Shakespeare, Churchill, The Beatles, Sean Connery, Harry Potter, David Beckham’s right foot, David Beckham’s left foot come to that.” This list is not exhaustive, but it certainly mentions some of the music, people and literature that would spring to mind if you asked a member of the general British public about their country.

In Quintessentially British, the follow up to filmmaker Frank Mannion’s documentary on champagne, Mannion explores the quirks and traditions of Great Britain. In Mannion’s mind, these traditions appear to predominantly stem from the wealthy. Not only do these traditions stem from the wealthy, but they also appear to stem from only the wealthy English as Scotland and Wales are curiously unmentioned. The film visits those who provide and produce the best including the finest and grandest car makers, tailors and shoemakers and Mannion talks to peers and the privileged.

Whilst Saville Row and the likes are certainly quintessentially British and an interesting part of British culture, there is underlying feeling throughout of disingenuity and exclusion. Britain is not merely a manufacturer of the unaffordable and a place in which to host the elite and their friends. Britain houses a diverse population with a penchant for tea and habits that only make sense to the British. In this day and age, being quintessentially British is not about buying a suit from Saville Row and quaffing champagne. Forming orderly queues, fish and chips, a myriad of accents, Sunday roasts, apologising profusely, barbecues at the first sight of the sun, pints in the pub, dry humour, royal celebrations, pulling together in a crisis – these are quintessentially British things and frankly exploring and visiting these things would make a much more engaging and enlightening film.

Unfortunately, all Quintessentially British does, albeit unintentionally, is highlight the difference between classes and status. In this way, the film feels less like a celebration of being British, which was surely its intention, and more like a slightly out of touch and niche television special.

Mannion provides a friendly and amiable presence as he interviews different people on screen but the interviews themselves do not extract any particularly interesting titbits or anecdotes and even acting stalwarts Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellen add little excitement. Overall, the result is a rather insipid and throwaway documentary.