My Family and Other Animals (2005)

An English family relocates to sunny Greece four years before WWII.

Director:

Sheree Folkson

Writers:

Gerald Durrell (book), Simon Nye

Stars:

Eugene Simon, Imelda Staunton, Chris Langham

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eugene Simon	...	Gerald Durrell
Imelda Staunton	...	Mother
Chris Langham	...	Theodore Stephanides
Omid Djalili	...	Spiro
Matthew Goode	...	Larry Durrell
Russell Tovey	...	Leslie Durrell
Tamzin Merchant	...	Margot Durrell
Kostas Tziotakis	...	Customs Officer
Mihalis Giannatos	...	Porter / Waiter (as Michalis Giannatos)
Olga Tournaki	...	Agathi
Dimitris Kaberidis	...	Rose-Beetle Man
David Armand	...	George - the tutor
Antonis Antoniou	...	Yani
George Couyas	...	Turkish Boyfriend
Efi Papatheodorou	...	Lugaretsia - housekeeper

Storyline

Feeling the depressing effects of a gloomy English summer, the Durrell family decides to pack up and move to the Greek island of Corfu in 1935. Lead by their widowed mother, 13-year old future naturalist Gerald Durrell, his two older brothers and older sister move into a series of villas. Gerald indulges his passion for nature by filling his room with local fauna, while his brothers fill their time with writing or hunting and his sister sunbathes and flirts.

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Plot Keywords:

naturalist | greek island | corfu | snail | family relationships | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Did You Know?

Quotes

[first lines]
Larry Durrell: Why do we put up with this bloody climate? I mean, look at us: Gerry can't speak,
Gerald Durrell: Uh?
Larry Durrell: Lesley can't hear.
Leslie Durrell: What?
Larry Durrell: Margot's got a face like a plate of red porridge.
Margot Durrell: Shut up.
Larry Durrell: Mother's beginning to look like an Irish washerwoman.
Mother: I am not.
Larry Durrell: It's August. We need sunshine.
[...]

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Connections

Version of My Family and Other Animals (1987)

User Reviews

Amusing and worth watching! Family style entertainment!

Remember the days when watching television with your family was wholesome, clean, and even entertaining. I love Imelda Staunton in this role as the mother of family who vacation in Greece. Her beloved son becomes more like P.T. Barnum by taking care of so many creatures. It's told from his point of view before World War II during a family vacation on a Greece Island. It's the kind of film that the whole family can watch and laugh at some of the moments. It's not too serious or too lighthearted. IT's just fine for an hour an half of clean, fun and family style entertainment that a whole family can gather around the set and watch together. It doesn't have vulgarity, sex, or violence to ruin it. It's not that kind of film. I was watching this film in London where I learned that Imelda Staunton was awarded the O.B.E. (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) which suits her perfectly. The scenery is spectacular and the writing could have been a little better but it works just fine for me. I love the acting but I can't remember the other actors' names.

Details

Official Sites:

BBC [UK] PBS [United States]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 December 2005 (UK)

Also Known As:

Mi familia y otros animales

Filming Locations:

Corfu, Greece

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), WGBH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1