WithhersonEdward(TomHiddleston)abouttoembarkonavolunteertriptoAfrica,dotingmotherPatricia(KateFahy)wantstogivehimagoodsend-off,andgathersherfamilytogetherforagetawaytoaholidayhomeonidyllicTresco,oneoftheIslesofScilly.Edward’sfather’sattendanceiseagerlyanticipated,thoughsisterCynthia(LydiaLeonard)appearstobethereundersomeduress,goingthroughdutifulmotions.CookRose(AmyLloyd)ishappytotendtothefamily,thoughherpresencecausessomediscomfort.Theholidaymakersspendtheirtimewalking,cycling,takingpicnicsandbeingtutoredinoilpainting,appreciatingthebreathlessbeautyoftheirsurroundings.Gradually,deepfractureswithinthefamilyset-upbegintosurface.Oneofthemosteagerlyanticipatedfeaturesoftheyear,JoannaHogg’sfollowuptoUnrelatedservesasaworthycompanionpiecetoherbrilliantandacclaimeddebut,asshecontinuestomakeastuteandauthoritativeobservationsonthemalaisesofthemiddle-class,extractingsometimespainfuldramafromincidentalevents.ArchipelagoconfirmsHoggasoneofthemostintriguingandvitalvoicesinmodernBritishcinema.
