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

"Lost in the Shuffle"
Written by Beth Nielsen Chapman & Harlan Howard
Published by BNC Songs ASCAP
Administered by Kobalt Music Services
Harlan Howard Songs Inc. / BMG Music Publishing International Ltd.

User Reviews

A real charmer

Like all the best stories, this one is simple and affecting.

There's not a lot in Lizzie and Frankie's lives to aspire to, constantly on the move and clearly in fear of something. All Lizzie wants is to give Frankie the life he deserves, and in the process she sacrifices her own comforts and happiness. The letters Frankie receives from his 'Dad' (written by Lizzie) afford him the comfort and release of imagining far-away adventures and his replies speak to Lizzie in a clear voice which Frankie's deafness denies him in real life.

The prospect of meeting his father, when his ship comes to town, is Frankie's dream - at last the chance to meet the exotic and mysterious man who loves him so much - and Lizzie's completely unexpected nightmare. How they deal with it, more together than they realise at first, is the heart of the film.

Having painted the slightly depressing picture of a mother and son caught in a life which they wouldn't have chosen for themselves, the film runs the risk of mawkish sentimentality to achieve a satisfying conclusion. This, of course, would only appeal to the most sweet-toothed romantics in the audience. But the film's skill in involving the viewer makes for a rewarding experience and the danger of tears being shed by even the most hard-hearted who see it.