Miss Potter (2006)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Chris Noonan

Writer (WGA):

Richard Maltby Jr. (written by)

Release Date:

5 January 2007 (UK)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

The life of Beatrix Potter is the most enchanting tale of all.

Plot:

The story of Beatrix Potter, the author of the beloved and best-selling children's book, "The Tale of Peter Rabbit", and her struggle for love, happiness and success.

Plot Keywords:

Book | Animal | Rabbit | Single | Author

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Renée Zellweger	...	Beatrix Potter
Ewan McGregor	...	Norman Warne
Emily Watson	...	Millie Warne
Barbara Flynn	...	Helen Potter
Bill Paterson	...	Rupert Potter
Matyelok Gibbs	...	Miss Wiggin
Lloyd Owen	...	William Heelis
Anton Lesser	...	Harold Warne
David Bamber	...	Fruing Warne
Phyllida Law	...	Mrs. Warne
Patricia Kerrigan	...	Fiona
Lucy Boynton	...	Young Beatrix
Oliver Jenkins	...	Young Bertram
Justin McDonald	...	Young Heelis
Judith Barker	...	Hilda

MPAA:

Rated PG brief mild language.

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG | Ireland:G | UK:PG | Singapore:PG | South Korea:All | Switzerland:0 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:0 (canton of Geneva) | Hong Kong:I | Finland:K-3 | Philippines:G (MTRCB) | Brazil:Livre | Australia:G | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:Btl | Argentina:Atp | New Zealand:G

Filming Locations:

Bluebell Railway, East Sussex, England, UK

Company:

Phoenix Pictures

Trivia:

Beatrix Potter's "Hilltop" house is actually "Yew Tree Farm" near the town of Coniston (part of the Lake District.)

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: While Millie is outside Beatrix's room we see her shadow against the door and it reveals that her mouth movement is out of sync with the sound.

Quotes:

Beatrix Potter: [voiceover] There's something delicious about writing those first few words of a story. You can never quite tell where they will take you. Mine took me here, where I belong.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Getaway: UK 4 Every 1 (#16.25)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

When You Taught Me How to Dance

Truly Moving Picture

I saw this film on December 17th, 2006 in Indianapolis. I am one of the judges for the Heartland Film Festival's Truly Moving Picture Award. A Truly Moving Picture "…explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life." Heartland gave that award to this film.

This is the story of Beatrix Potter, the author of many classic illustrated children's stories such as "Peter Rabbit." She was raised in the latter part of the 19th Century in an upper middle class, stuffy family. And worked in the early part of the 20th Century.

It is a story of rebellion, and one woman's liberation from knowing one's place, settling on an arranged marriage, and quietly raising a family in the shadow of a man. Beatrix (Renee Zellweger) would have none of that. She had a dreamy artist's imagination and talent and temperament from an early age and simply rebelled and lived in her own created world. When the world recognized her talent, she slowly became a part of the commercial world via the book publishing industry and a mentor/love interest (Ewan McGregor) and the mentor's sister (Emily Watson).

The cast is brilliant. You go back in time with them a 100 years and live with and understand their stilted social mores. The art direction and cinematography are stunning and are worthy of Academy Award nominations.

There is one neat trick of animation that appears throughout this film. The drawn animal characters occasionally become animated, but only to Beatrix. It sounds hokey, but it is a clever way to demonstrate how real these characters were to their author. And, it's why they have rung true to children and to adults for many generations.

Beatrix is a model for determination and pluck and steadfastness. This is a beautiful story beautifully told. Undoubtedly, this film will be compared to "Finding Neverland." "Miss Potter" is of the same high quality.

FYI – There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past Truly Moving Picture Award winners that are now either at the theater or available on video.