Films Set in Country Houses

Description: This Merchant Ivory film captures the beauty of an Italian villa and an English country house, exploring themes of love and social conventions. The settings are as much characters as the people in the story.

Fact: The film won three Academy Awards, including Best Adapted Screenplay.

Description: This film, set in a grand English country house, explores the life of a butler and his unexpressed love for the housekeeper against the backdrop of pre-World War II England.

Fact: Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson both received Academy Award nominations for their performances.

Description: A young girl discovers a hidden garden in her uncle's Yorkshire estate, leading to magical transformations. The film's setting in the countryside is vital to its themes of healing and discovery.

Fact: The film was shot at Allerton Castle in North Yorkshire, England.

Description: Grace, living in a secluded mansion with her two photosensitive children, begins to suspect their home is haunted. The film's setting in a grand, isolated country house adds to the eerie atmosphere, making it a perfect fit for this collection.

Fact: The film was shot in Spain, despite being set in England. It was also nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay.

Description: This film delves into the lives of the aristocracy and their servants during a weekend hunting party at an English country estate. The intricate social dynamics and the sprawling estate itself are central to the plot.

Fact: The film boasts an ensemble cast including Helen Mirren, Maggie Smith, and Michael Gambon. It was also written by Julian Fellowes, who later created "Downton Abbey."

Description: A romantic drama where two people living in different times communicate through a magical mailbox at a lake house. The serene setting of the house by the lake is integral to the film's unique narrative.

Fact: The film is a remake of the South Korean film "Il Mare." The house used in the film is located in Wicker Park, Chicago.

Description: Two women swap homes for the holidays, one in a charming English cottage and the other in a luxurious Hollywood mansion. The English cottage, surrounded by picturesque countryside, plays a key role in the story's charm.

Fact: The English cottage was actually a set built in Surrey, England. The film also features a memorable score by Hans Zimmer.

Description: A ghostwriter hired to complete the memoirs of a former British Prime Minister uncovers dark secrets in his secluded island home. The film's setting in a modern, isolated house adds to the suspense.

Fact: The film was directed by Roman Polanski, who won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlin Film Festival.

Description: A lawyer travels to a remote village to settle the affairs of a deceased client, only to encounter a ghostly presence in the client's eerie, isolated manor. The film's setting in a desolate country house amplifies the horror.

Fact: The film is based on Susan Hill's novel and was remade from a 1989 TV movie.

Description: Alfred Hitchcock's classic about a young bride who moves into her husband's imposing country estate, Manderley, haunted by the memory of his first wife. The house itself is almost a character in this tale of mystery and psychological tension.

Fact: This was Hitchcock's first American film, and it won the Academy Award for Best Picture.