Dear Frankie (2004)

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.

Director:

Shona Auerbach

Writer:

Andrea Gibb (screenplay)

Stars:

Emily Mortimer, Jack McElhone, Mary Riggans

8 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Nine-year-old Frankie and his single mum Lizzie have been on the move ever since Frankie can remember, most recently arriving in a seaside Scottish town. Wanting to protect her deaf son from the truth that they've run away from his father, Lizzie has invented a story that he is away at sea on the HMS Accra. Every few weeks, Lizzie writes Frankie a make-believe letter from his father, telling of his adventures in exotic lands. As Frankie tracks the ship's progress around the globe, he discovers that it is due to dock in his hometown. With the real HMS Accra arriving in only a fortnight, Lizzie must choose between telling Frankie the truth or finding the perfect stranger to play Frankie's father for just one day...

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Plot Keywords:

stranger | letter | deaf boy | seaside | ship | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for language

Details

Official Sites:

Miramax [us] Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English British Sign Language

Release Date:

14 January 2005 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

Querido Frankie

Filming Locations:

Buchanan Street Stamps, Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$3,162 (Hong Kong) (1 July 2005)

Gross:

$1,340,891 (USA) (1 July 2005)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pathé Pictures International, UK Film Council, Scottish Screen

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The song that plays while Lizzie (Emily Mortimer) is sitting on a bench crying after a fruitless attempt to find a "daddy" for Frankie, is written by one of the most famous contemporary Estonian composer - Arvo Pärt.

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Goofs

When Lizzie is reading the last letter, it says "Thanks for the book" twice, but it is only read once.

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Quotes

Lizzie: It must be some life, seeing all those different places.
The Stranger: You should know... you've been writing from them for years.

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Crazy Credits

Special thanks to ... all at Deaf Connections, ... all at Sigma Films, ... Esther and Harvey ...

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Soundtracks

"Delicate"
(2002)
Written by Damien Rice
(p) & © Damian Rice
Administered by Warner / Cjappell Music Publishing Ltd.
Performed by Damien Rice
Under license to Vector Recordings, LLC / Warner Bros. Records Inc / 14th Floor Recordings
By Arrangement with Warner Strategic Marketing and Warner Strategic Marketing UK

User Reviews

A Modern Fairytale

The beautiful princess is trapped by the evils in her past, she is icy, almost dead to anything but the need to keep the truth from Frankie, her 9 year old son. But Frankie is smart and resourceful and will save her, as well as any son in a storybook. This is a beautiful film, a fantasy with a stark and realistic background, which can also take your breath away with wonder, as one of the characters comments for herself. The synopsis does not do justice to the stately and beguiling way this tale is told - the shocks and surprises are never gratuitous and the happy ever after ...? Well, that would be telling. Emily Mortimer conveys the paralysis of fear and yearning without any showiness, the spare and well-crafted dialogue tells us a little less than we would like to know, but the suspense is not unpleasant. The supporting players have colour and substance and the man who agrees play the part of Frankie's dad, is portrayed with heart-breaking restraint by Gerard Butler, who after his showier role in 'Phantom of the Opera' demonstrates that his has real and effective range. But the boy is a wonder of subtlety and sincerity. A lovely film.