There’s something rather charming and uncynical about Joel Hopkins’ romantic drama Hampstead – and to mark the film’s UK release we spent some time with the affable filmmaker.

Hampstead Diane Keaton Brendan GleesonThe film – which centres around the relationship between an eccentric American widow and a man who has built a shack in the corner of Hampstead Heath – features two accomplished displays from Diane Keaton and Brendan Gleeson, and Hopkins discussed the joy in working with such a remarkable cast.

He also discusses the importance of the location, and whether he can see the appeal in Donald’s way of life, to live off the land and refuse to conform to a more traditionalist way of getting by. He also speaks about the pressure in semi-basing this tale on a real life story, and why he just let Diane Keaton, be Diane Keaton.

Watch the full interview below…

Hampstead is released on June 23rd. You can read our review here.