Swallows and Amazons (2016)

Four children (the Swallows) on holiday in the Lake District sail on their own to an island and start a war with rival children (the Amazons). In the meantime, a mysterious man on a houseboat accuses them of a crime they did not commit.

Director:

Philippa Lowthorpe

Writers:

Andrea Gibb, Arthur Ransome (based on the book by)

Stars:

Bobby McCulloch, Dane Hughes, Kelly Macdonald

4 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bobby McCulloch	...	Roger Walker
Dane Hughes	...	John Walker
Kelly Macdonald	...	Mrs. Walker
Abbie Glozier	...	Baby Vicki
Megan Glozier	...	Baby Vicki
Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen	...	Tatty Walker (as Teddie Malleson-Allen)
Orla Hill	...	Susan Walker
Andrew Scott	...	Lazlov
Dan Renton Skinner	...	Zukin (as Dan Skinner)
Rafe Spall	...	Jim Turner / Captain Flint / Polski the Parrot
Harry Enfield	...	Mr. Jackson
Jessica Hynes	...	Mrs. Jackson
Fenella Woolgar	...	Miss Crummock
Jack Ibbotson	...	Postman
Richard Bremmer	...	Old Billy

Storyline

About two different groups of children who encounter one another on a small piece of land in a lake which they both live by. Both groups try to claim the land as theirs and do so role playing as two sets of enemy pirates. Whilst this happens they encounter another boat and a stranger, they must now work together to work out who he is and why he is there, but have they got themselves involved in something much bigger?

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Plot Keywords:

parrot | seaplane | binoculars | f rated | 

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Taglines:

Swallows forever.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Family | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

BBC Films Harbour Pictures

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 July 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

Golondrinas y amazonas

Filming Locations:

Yorkshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Films,British Film Company,Harbour Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Atmos

Did You Know?

Trivia

The opening journey was filmed on the Keighley and Worth Valley railway. The same line used in The Railway Children.

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Goofs

Gunnera manicata, known as Brazilian giant-rhubarb, is a native to South America, yet is clearly visible on the island when the children confront the Russian agents. It is highly unlikely to have been planted on a remote island in the middle of the Lake District.

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Quotes

Captain Flint: I object to weapons that can wipe out whole cities
Lazlov: Well I'm afraid neither of us is in charge of what our governments do

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Connections

Version of Swallows and Amazons (1963)

User Reviews

Take me to the Lake District

I watched the latest Swallows and Amazons with some trepidation as I was a huge fan of the old version. I hadn't mind that the old one was so slow and so uneventful. But the new version is simply perfect. I love that it operates on two levels: the joyous if sometimes chopsy relationships between the kids; and the clever way that Arthur Ransome's life as a spy/Guardian journalist is woven into the plot. So much for the script (which is terrific). As for the scenery and cinematography well I could have stared at the lakes for hours and the boats bobbing along. I would have liked more sailing and more time for the children to have messed about having fun to sharpen the contrast between the adult and children story lines and because the kids were so good. The adult acting was generally excellent. Andrew Scott was and is always amazing. Fenella Wolgar got some of the biggest laughs and it was lovely to see Harry Enfield obviously enjoying himself. I think the child actors are well cast and can carry the film as and when needed. I saw quite a few kids crawling onto parents laps during the moments of tension or jumping at key points. It's undoubtedly the only true and honest family film of this summer. But you can revel in it as an adult too.