Keeping Mum (2005)

A pastor preoccupied with writing the perfect sermon fails to realize that his wife is having an affair and his children are up to no good.

Director:

Niall Johnson

Writers:

Richard Russo (screenplay), Niall Johnson (screenplay),

Stars:

Rowan Atkinson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Maggie Smith

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rowan Atkinson	...	Walter Goodfellow
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Gloria Goodfellow
Maggie Smith	...	'Grace Hawkins'
Patrick Swayze	...	Lance
Tamsin Egerton	...	Holly Goodfellow
Toby Parkes	...	Petey Goodfellow
Liz Smith	...	Mrs. Parker
Emilia Fox	...	Rosie Jones
James Booth	...	Mr. Brown
Patrick Monckton	...	Bob - Pond Workman
Rowley Irlam	...	Ted - Pond Workman
Vivienne Moore	...	Mrs. Martin
Murray McArthur	...	Vicar's Convention Master of Ceremonies
Morgan Gower	...	Reverend Campbell
Rupert Simonian	...	Billy Martin the Bully

Storyline

Walter Goodfellow, the vicar for the small English country parish of Little Wallop, has allowed his marriage to Gloria go stale, and he is so detached from his family that he has not taken notice that his 17-year-old daughter Holly is going through a succession of relationships with unsuitable boyfriends, and his son Petey fears going to school owing to being bullied. Out of desperation for affection, Gloria begins to fall for the advances of Lance, an American golf pro who is giving her "private" lessons. The problems upsetting the family start to fade away after Grace Hawkins, the new housekeeper, arrives and starts tending to matters as an older, and rather darkly mysterious version of Mary Poppins.

---

Plot Keywords:

golf | neighbor | children | school | housekeeper | 

---

Taglines:

Schweigen ist Silber - Vergraben ist Gold (Silence is silver, but burying is golden)

---

Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexual content/nudity

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 December 2005 (UK)

Also Known As:

Az eltakarítónő

Filming Locations:

Pickering Station, Pickering, North Yorkshire, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$27,112 (USA) (15 September 2006)

Gross:

$1,618,957 (USA) (19 January 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Summit Entertainment, Isle of Man Film Commission, Azure Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min 97 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film is dedicated to James Booth (Mr. Brown).

---

Goofs

Rosie Jones (Emilia Fox) has brown eyes, whereas her older self Grace Hawkins (Maggie Smith) has blue eyes.

---

Quotes

Grace Hawkins: Good old broccoli, eh? Shall we have some for supper?

---

Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Episode dated 7 October 2006 (2006)

---

Soundtracks

"Did You Ever Wonder Why?"
(2005)
Produced and Written by Dickon Hinchliffe
Sung by Dickon Hinchliffe and Cara Dillon
Guitar: Neil Fraser
Engineered by Philip Bagenal at Eastcote Studios and Mat Bartram at Angel Studios
Mixed by Ian Caple
Published by Keeping Mum Productions Ltd

User Reviews

A seriously entertaining movie

I went to this movie looking forward to a mindless comedy. I was very pleasantly surprised. Very! I was first introduced to Rowan Atkinson in the 70's and have only seen him in silly, caricature ( a caricature of himself) type roles and I love him in these roles. But he did an amazing job as a serious, thoughtful (bordering on glum) Vicar, and was absolutely believable as his journey and his attitude changed ... I would never have put him in such a role, but he really pulled it off. I was also surprised, pleasantly, at the intense spiritual undertones (okay, at times overtones) woven throughout this most enjoyable film. It was interesting to see a movie use religion as a backdrop for such a deep look into what (in my humble opinion) is clearly a non-religious aspect of human spirituality.