Dear Frankie (2004)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Shona Auerbach

Writer:

Andrea Gibb (screenplay)

Release Date:

16 March 2005 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

After having responded to her son's numerous letters in the guise of his father, a woman hires a stranger to pose as his dad when meeting him.

Plot Keywords:

Stranger | Letter | Sailor | Deaf Boy | Ship

Awards:

8 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Emily Mortimer	...	Lizzie
Jack McElhone	...	Frankie
Mary Riggans	...	Nell
Sharon Small	...	Marie
Sophie Main	...	Serious Girl
Katy Murphy	...	Miss MacKenzie
Sean Brown	...	Ricky Monroe
Jayd Johnson	...	Catriona
Anna Hepburn	...	Headmistress
Rony Bridges	...	Post Office Clerk
Douglas Stewart Wallace	...	Stamp Shop Keeper
Elaine M. Ellis	...	Librarian (as Elaine Mackenzie Ellis)
Carolyn Calder	...	Barmaid
John Kazek	...	Ally
Gerard Butler	...	The Stranger

Also Known As:

Natural History (UK) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | British Sign Language

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:12 (video rating) (2005) | UK:12A (edited for re-rating) | UK:15 (original rating) | Malaysia:U | Finland:K-7 | Iceland:LH | Iceland:LH (video rating) | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Hong Kong:I | Netherlands:AL | USA:PG-13 | Brazil:10 | Spain:13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Buchanan Street Stamps, Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK

Company:

Pathé Pictures International

Trivia:

Jack McElhone (Frankie) is not deaf but worked with a speech coach so that his one spoken line would sound correct.

Goofs:

Continuity: In one of Frankie's letters to his dad, the text of the letter does not correspond to the voiceover. We hear Frankie say, "Ricky Munroe told me. Trust him to put his big feet right in it." but the letter reads, "Trust him to put his size threes right in it."

Quotes:

The Stranger: Frankie's a very... very lucky boy.
Lizzie: How'd you figure that one out? I'm his mother and I lie to him every single day.
The Stranger: No. No, you protect him every single day

Soundtrack:

Lost in the Shuffle

How naive to think that all movies do not "manipulate"

I thought "Dear Frankie" was a delightful film. It was supposed to be a tear jerker! I felt the acting was true (especially the work done by the child who played Frankie) and that the story, while fanciful in some portions, was good. In my opinion, the story was about the lengths a parent will go to in protecting their child from the ugliness of the world. Why must films always emulate reality? What is wrong with telling just a sweet, gentle story? Emily Mortimer was great, portraying a woman who had to be strong, yet who was also vulnerable, who was barely holding life together for her son and mother. Jack McElhone was terrific as her son. He was neither a cloyingly innocent deaf "victim" or the smart butt kid typically portrayed in current films. Gerard Butler did a good job of conveying "the man behind the disguise" as his interaction with Frankie progressed. I saw this film at the LA Film Festival, and judging by the audience reaction, I was not the only viewer who was enchanted by this movie. Those of you looking for a gritty slice of life would be wise to avoid "Dear Frankie". But if you want to spend some time in a world were parents DO care and good things do happen to those who are deserving, then this is the film for you.