Family holidays can be a joy or an ordeal depending on the family. In British director Joanna Hogg’s second theatrical feature, Archipelago (2010), the Leighton family start their holiday on an upbeat note. Patricia (Kate Fahy) and her daughter Cynthia (Lydia Leonard) have rented their favorite vacation home from past visits on the island of Tresco (which is part of the Isles of Scilly archipelago) as a farewell gathering for Cynthia’s brother Edward (Tom Hiddleston). He is taking a break from his job in the city to do volunteer work in Africa and his mother and sister want to give him a memorable send-off. William, Edward’s father, is on his way to join them and family friend and artist Christopher (Christopher Baker) is staying nearby and will be on hand to mentor Patricia on her painting and sketching endeavors and join them for outings. What could possibly go wrong for such a privileged family in idyllic surroundings?