This Little Life (2003) (TV)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Sarah Gavron

Writer:

Rosemary Kay (writer)

Release Date:

19 March 2003 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Baby

Awards:

5 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Kate Ashfield	...	Sadie MacGregor
David Morrissey	...	Richie MacGregor
Peter Mullan	...	Consultant
Anthony Borrows	...	Luke
Sian Reeves	...	Glenda
Alan Stocks	...	Alan
Corinne S. Carter	...	Midwife
Alexis Tuttle	...	Doctor at Birth
Emma Lowndes	...	Nurse at Birth
Linda Bassett	...	Nurse Nina
Shauna Shim	...	Nurse Janey
Gerry Hinks	...	Richie's Father
Judi Jones	...	Richie's Mother
Caroline O'Neill	...	Nurse Babs
Archie Panjabi	...	Niala
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Zara Bridget Bell	...	Baby Luke
Frasier Cordon	...	Baby Luke
Rebecca Jade Evans	...	Baby Luke
Joshua Freeman	...	Baby Luke
Rani Moorthy	...	Registrar at Birth
Bernard Nagle	...	Sadie's Dad
Sarah Raymond	...	Temporary Nurse
Leon Sellers	...	Baby Luke

Directed by
Sarah Gavron

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Rosemary Kay		writer

Produced by
Jeremy Howe	....	executive producer
Stewart Mackinnon	....	producer
Colin Pons	....	production executive: SON
Paul Ritchie	....	line producer
David Thompson	....	co-executive producer
Paul Trijbits	....	co-executive producer

Original Music by
Dario Marianelli

Cinematography by
David Katznelson

Film Editing by
William Diver		(as Bill Diver)

Casting by
Joyce Nettles
Michelle Smith

Production Design by
David Munns

Art Direction by
Sue Booth

Costume Design by
Julian Day

Makeup Department
Joyce Dean	....	makeup designer
Carly Green	....	makeup assistant

Production Management
Sandra Shuttleworth	....	production manager
Matthew Vizard	....	post-production supervisor: BBC Films

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Guy Barker	....	third assistant director
Simon Noone	....	second assistant director
Simon Turner	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Beverley Gerard	....	dressing props
Rebecca Hemy	....	stand-by art director
Colin Mutch	....	stand-by props
Mike Roberts	....	props master
Natalie Shearer	....	art department assistant
Duncan Wheeler	....	production buyer

Sound Department
Vicky Brazier	....	dubbing editor
Doug Cooper	....	sound re-recording mixer
Giancarlo Dellapina	....	sound mixer
Giancarlo Dellapina	....	sound recordist
Robert Farr	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kim Harding	....	boom operator
Tim Lewiston	....	dubbing editor

Special Effects by
Tom Carruthers	....	special effects
Neill Gorton	....	special effects
Gustav Hoegen	....	special effects
Neil Morrill	....	special effects
Ian Morse	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Jim Bishop	....	focus puller
Sara Deane	....	clapper loader
Michael C. Hawk	....	grip
Jakob Hire	....	photography: second unit
Alessandra Scherillo	....	photography: second unit
Otto Stenov	....	gaffer
Adam Suschitzky	....	photography: second unit
Dan Thomas	....	best boy
Per Tingleff	....	photography: second unit

Casting Department
Beverley Keogh	....	additional casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mark Foster	....	costume supervisor
Lisa Phillips	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Ergin Ahmet	....	colorist
Justinian Buckley	....	assistant editor
Cas Casey	....	on-line editor

Music Department
Peter Fuchs	....	score mixer

Other crew
Joanne Bendon	....	assistant production accountant
Emma Clarke	....	senior executive: Film Council
Douglas Cooper	....	post-production accountant
Katie Easton	....	assistant to director
Francesca Franklyn	....	script editor
Joanna Gueritz	....	production executive: BBC
Peta Inglesent	....	post-production accountant
Sarah Kaye	....	production accountant
Paul McGavin	....	set runner
Eliza Mellor	....	production executive: BBC
Helen Moran	....	script supervisor
Fiona Morham	....	head of physical production for film council
Mark O'Hanlon	....	location manager
Joe Oppenheimer	....	production executive: BBC
Colin Pons	....	production executive: YMPA
Howard Schuman	....	story consultant
Paul Sparrow	....	production runner
Andy Stebbing	....	production coordinator
Sam Whymant	....	floor runner

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• Common Features
• Studio of the North
• Yorkshire Media Production Agency (YMPA)

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2003) (UK) (TV)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2005) (2007) (Finland) (TV)

Also Known As:

Entering Blue Zone (UK) (working title)

Runtime:

Canada:80 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

A really moving true story

I found this story hugely moving from the outset. The story centers around 3 main characters. Sadie, the ever-loving, very devoted mother. Richie, her very caring partner, and Luke, their son.

Luke was born very prematurely, weighing only 1lb 4oz. It was doubtful that he was going to survive very long at all, but thanks to the will-power and caring of his mother Sadie, he seemed to be hanging in there. Sadie has an amazing connection to Luke, knowing instinctively when he's ill or unhappy. The whole film shows how determined one mother was to keep her son alive, at any cost, even that of her marriage or sometimes her mind. Excerpts from Sadie's diary are read, giving narrative to the tale. As well as showing small clips from Luke's later life, that'll never be. In the end though, there are some really hard decisions to be made. When Luke takes a turn for the worse, Sadie and Richie have to ask a stark question: What is this little life ultimately worth?

Amazing performances on such an achingly hard topic. Well done to Peter Mullan, whose tremendous effort as the caring Consultant really paid off. Giving this film a human edge that i didn't think was possible.