Cold Comfort Farm (1995)

In the heart of London during the 1930's, a young woman named Flora Poste (Kate Beckinsale) finds herself orphaned and isolated. Although born into the leisure class, Flora is left with only a modest allowance to sustain her, prompting her to seek refuge with her distant relatives rather than undertake employment. Envisioning herself as the Jane Austen of her generation, Flora is intent on choosing relatives who, while not necessarily affluent, offer a wealth of intriguing narratives and complex lives that she can 'tidy up', all in the name of cultivating experiences for her future novel. Amidst a flurry of invitations from her various kin, all seemingly less appealing than the last, Flora selects the offer from her first cousin once removed, Judith Starkadder (Dame Eileen Atkins), to take up residence at the ominous and intriguing Cold Comfort Farm. The mysterious allure of this choice is intensified by Judith's cryptic desire to make amends for an undisclosed wrong committed against Flora's father and the family's stubborn refusal to abandon the farm, a place seemingly steeped in a legacy of doom and gloom. As Flora settles into her new home, she uncovers even more peculiarities. Her Great Aunt Ada Doom (Sheila Burrell) is rumoured to have lost her sanity after witnessing something unspeakable in the woodshed, and has since become a recluse within the farm. Confronted with such bewildering circumstances, Flora, endearingly referred to as "Robert Poste's Child" by the Starkadders, quickly recognises that her life on the farm will be far more bizarre and fascinating than she ever could have predicted. In her quest to unravel the secrets that shroud the Starkadders and Cold Comfort Farm, Flora embarks on a mission to overhaul life on the farm, striving to steer her newfound family towards a sense of 'higher common sense.' This tale weaves together a tapestry of eccentric characters and a gloomy landscape, creating a uniquely captivating narrative of a young woman's determination to reshape her surroundings while gathering material for her aspiring literary career.

Cold Comfort Farm is a comedy movie featuring Eileen Atkins and directed by John Schlesinger.

It is possible to buy Cold Comfort Farm on Vudu.