My Life So Far (1999)

Memoir of the lives of a family growing up on a post World War I British estate headed up by a strong disciplinarian, her daughter, her inventor husband, their ten year old son and his ... See full summary »

Director:

Hugh Hudson

Writers:

Denis Forman (book) (as Sir Denis Forman), Simon Donald (screenplay)

Stars:

Colin Firth, Rosemary Harris, Irène Jacob

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Colin Firth	...	Edward
Rosemary Harris	...	Gamma
Irène Jacob	...	Aunt Heloise (as Irene Jacob)
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio	...	Moira
Malcolm McDowell	...	Uncle Morris MacIntosh
Robert Norman	...	Fraser
Tchéky Karyo	...	Gabriel Chenoux (as Tcheky Karyo)
Kelly Macdonald	...	Elspeth
Roddy McDonald	...	Rollo
Daniel Baird	...	Finlay
Jennifer Fergie	...	Brenda
Kirstin Smith	...	Meg (as Kirsten Smith)
Sean Scanlan	...	Andrew Burns
John Bett	...	Uncle Crawford
Anne Lacey	...	Aunt Eunice

Storyline

Memoir of the lives of a family growing up on a post World War I British estate headed up by a strong disciplinarian, her daughter, her inventor husband, their ten year old son and his older sister. Through the household comes a number of suitors hoping to impress the young woman, including an aviator. When the elder woman's son shows up at the estate with his French fiancé, everything gets thrown into turmoil. The young boy takes a sudden interest in her sexual allure and his father is disturbed by his own non-Victorian feelings.

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Plot Keywords:

wet dream | voice over narration | temptation | swan | scottish highlands | 

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Taglines:

Imagine a summer in paradise with nothing to do except everything your heart desires.

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, including some nude pictures

Details

Official Sites:

Miramax

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 August 1999 (Singapore)

Also Known As:

World of Moss

Filming Locations:

Ardkinglas House, Cairndow, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$53,937, 25 July 1999, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$616,310, 12 September 1999

Company Credits

Production Co:

Enigma Productions, Hudson Film, Miramax

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film takes place in 1927.

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Goofs

(at around 53 mins) When Edward crosses stage right to Uncle Morris MacIntosh a reflection of the boom mic is clearly visible in the glass covering the artwork on the back wall.

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Quotes

Edward Pettigrew: The next time you hear music in a dream, as soon as you're waking up you must run down to the loch with me and have a cold plunge.

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Crazy Credits

Grateful special thanks to the entire Miramax London operation and the people of Stracchur & Cairndow.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: American Pie/My Life So Far/The Blair Witch Project/Arlington Road/Return with Honor (1999)

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Soundtracks

Le Cygne (The Swan)
(1886)
from "Le Carnaval des Animaux (Carnival of the Animals)"
Written by Camille Saint-Saëns (as Saint Saens)
Arranged by Harry Rabinowitz and Howard Blake

User Reviews

The true story of one of the founders of BBC/TV and Chairman of The Royal Opera House, when he was a child growing up in Scotland in 1920

This is one of the least know, but most charming films I have ever scene.seen.

Every child deserves to have a father like Edward Pettigrew (Firth). As Frazier describes his father, " Father is an inventer and a genius!!!"

The film begins with a toddler Frazier, disliking his rest time, decides to have an adventure by crawling around the roof of the family castle in Argyll, Scotland. Father climbs down the steep roof with a rope attached to his waist and rescues wee Frazier, all the while barking like a dog. Frazier, (who makes comments throughout the film), observes that at that time in his life, he and his father ONLY communicated in DOG, the language they both spoke best.

Naturally the film has a romantic and potentially explosively moment between Father and his brother-in-law's fiance- a 24 year old French muscian who is quite beautiful and charming. She is also very wise for her years and managed to defuse the situation before it blows up. Never-the-less, the wife, played beautifully by Mary Elizabeth Mastreontonio, finds out at a crucial moment in the film and those rock-solid marriage nearly ends at a most tragic time in young Frazier's life.

But father, being a genius, finds a way to heal the wounds caused by his split-second decision to give in to his baser instincts. The WAY he gets his wife to forgive him and laugh again is pure magic.

Colin Firth never looked so handsome. Not even his glorious Mr. Darcy is so appealing. This role gives him the opportunity to show all his sides. His glorious, looney sense of humor as well as his gift for drama without words. Here he is active, leaping into a freezing cold Locke, running up and down stairs, inventing things, saving his son, dancing with his wife. He gets to laugh and cry and be HUMAN.

For those who discovered Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy, My Life So Far is the glorious update!

My Life So Far in DVD has a place on honor in my collection of over 500 DVD's and VHS' One of my favorites, and, I hope soon to be yours.