Screenings for the Kansas International Film Festival take place at:

Glenwood Arts Theatre
9575 Metcalf Ave
Overland Park, KS
913-642-4404

Even though this delightful little British farce was released in 2007, it won’t officially be available here in the US until late May, 2009. I saw it at the Sedona Film Festival this past March and thought it was a treat!

Damian Lewis [“Forsyte Saga,” “Friends and (Crocodiles)” and “Band of Brothers”] is an enterprising hit man who works for Michael Gambon (“Cranford” and “Harry Potter”). After an [un]successful job, Lewis is dispatched to a bakery in a small village in Wales to await further orders. Consequently he buries his Glock under a tree and treks into town. He finds himself in the awkward position of having to pretend he has moved there to serve as the new village baker.

This isolated little village withholds judgment about the newcomer because they DO need a baker, so….

Meanwhile, one of the young men in town had observed the burial and digs up the gun. He immediately concocts a fantastical scenario which is shockingly close to the truth.

Watching Lewis attempt to woo a local lass while struggling with the intricacies of making bread, doughnuts, and other pastries, is great fun. When they finally fling themselves into each other’s arms, their enthusiastic lovemaking amid slippery frosting, dough, and batter ingredients, rivals that of the classic paint shop scene in “The Stuntman.”

Many of these same actors appear in the hilarious update of “Much Ado About Nothing” which also stars Damian Lewis, so maybe it is the same production company. If you are curious about THAT one, look for it in the “ShakespeaRe-Told” collection (spelling verified). It is by far my favorite selection out of the four in that set.

I like silly British comedies that take place in quirky little hamlets, and for some reason Damian Lewis is one of my favorite actors, so this is one I enjoyed immensely. Check with your local library or Netflex, and cross your fingers!

Note: The Baker and Much Ado About Nothing were not created by the same production company. MAAN is a BBC production and The Baker was produced by Picture Farm, an idenpendent film company founded by Damian Lewis, Gareth Lewis, Rupert Wyatt, and Adrian Sturges. Damian’s brother Gareth Lewis wrote and directed The Baker.

Sadly, The Baker has not yet been released in the U.S. 🙁