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Ethel & Ernest

  • 20162016
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
3.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Ethel & Ernest (2016)
  • Animation
  • Drama
  • History
The life and times of the parents of the hailed British graphic novelist, Raymond Briggs.The life and times of the parents of the hailed British graphic novelist, Raymond Briggs.The life and times of the parents of the hailed British graphic novelist, Raymond Briggs.
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
3.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Roger Mainwood
  • Writers
    • Raymond Briggs(graphic novel)
    • Roger Mainwood(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Jim Broadbent(voice)
    • Brenda Blethyn(voice)
    • Luke Treadaway(voice)
Top credits
  • Director
    • Roger Mainwood
  • Writers
    • Raymond Briggs(graphic novel)
    • Roger Mainwood(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Jim Broadbent(voice)
    • Brenda Blethyn(voice)
    • Luke Treadaway(voice)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 26User reviews
    • 80Critic reviews
    • 72Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 8 nominations

    Photos100

    Ethel & Ernest (2016)
    Ethel & Ernest (2016)
    Ethel & Ernest (2016)
    Ethel & Ernest (2016)
    Ethel & Ernest (2016)
    Ethel & Ernest (2016)
    Ethel & Ernest (2016)
    Ethel & Ernest (2016)
    Ethel & Ernest (2016)
    Ethel & Ernest (2016)
    Ethel & Ernest (2016)
    Ethel & Ernest (2016)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jim Broadbent
    Jim Broadbent
    • Ernest Briggsas Ernest Briggs
    • (voice)
    Brenda Blethyn
    Brenda Blethyn
    • Ethel Briggsas Ethel Briggs
    • (voice)
    Luke Treadaway
    Luke Treadaway
    • Raymond Briggsas Raymond Briggs
    • (voice)
    Macready Massey
    • Teenage Raymond Briggsas Teenage Raymond Briggs
    • (voice)
    Harry Collett
    Harry Collett
    • Young Raymond Briggsas Young Raymond Briggs
    • (voice)
    Roger Allam
    Roger Allam
    • 1930s Doctoras 1930s Doctor
    • (voice)
    June Brown
    June Brown
    • Ernest's Stepmotheras Ernest's Stepmother
    • (voice)
    Karyn Claydon
    • Jeanas Jean
    • (voice)
    Simon Day
    • Alfas Alf
    • (voice)
    Pam Ferris
    Pam Ferris
    • Mrs. Bennetas Mrs. Bennet
    • (voice)
    • …
    Gillian Hanna
    Gillian Hanna
    • Midwifeas Midwife
    • (voice)
    • …
    Alex Jordan
    Alex Jordan
    • 1970s Doctoras 1970s Doctor
    • (voice)
    • …
    Virginia McKenna
    Virginia McKenna
    • Lady of the Houseas Lady of the House
    • (voice)
    Peter Wight
    Peter Wight
    • Detective Sergeant Burnleyas Detective Sergeant Burnley
    • (voice)
    Duncan Wisbey
    • Tailoras Tailor
    • (voice)
    • …
    Raymond Briggs
    • Selfas Self
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Roger Mainwood
    • Writers
      • Raymond Briggs(graphic novel)
      • Roger Mainwood(screenplay) (uncredited)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      As a wartime evacuee, the young Raymond is seen sketching a snowman based on a Christmas cake figurine. In 1978 'The Snowman' would become Raymond Briggs' most famous and successful book.
    • Goofs
      While the house has French windows from the outside and again through the kitchen/dining room window, from inside the front room of the house they are missing with a wall where the windows should be.
    • Quotes

      Ethel Briggs: I could have married a deep-sea diver.

      Ernest Briggs: Well, why didn't ya?

      Ethel Briggs: Because I didn't love him.

    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojoUK: Top 10 Greatest British Animations (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      In the Blink of an Eye
      Written by Paul McCartney

      Performed by Paul McCartney

      [Played over end credits]

    User reviews26

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    A sublime and moving ode to ordinary people's lives
    What a wonderful thing Raymond Briggs has done. This magnificent, sensitive and funny animated film about the lives of his parents Ethel and Ernest is a triumph. It surpasses even his famous THE SNOWMAN (1982) and, I daresay, is what he will truly be remembered for. In this age in which we live at present, when the ordinary people are rising up in revolt against their snotty and arrogant politicians, in what the elites patronisingly call 'populism' (and what is wrong with the populus, then, that it should become a term of derision?), we have here the perfect paean to real life, to real people, to real hopes and to real dreams. With his subtle and loving humour, which pervades the entire film, Briggs brings to life his parents in the most intimate possible manner. He allows us to chuckle at their foibles, without ever once looking down upon their numerous limitations. The story starts in 1928 when his parents meet. Ethel is a lady's maid who waves at the jolly young man who rides past her window every day. Before long, he turns up with flowers and asks her to go to 'the pictures' with him. And soon enough they are married. But time goes by and they do not seem able to have a baby, and Ethel cries and says she is getting too old. But Fate intervenes, and Raymond is born, though the doctor warns Ernest they must not have any more, as 'it was hit and miss' and 'more children means no wife'. So they settle for the one child. We are taken through the whole of the period between 1928 and 1971 as seen through the eyes of Ethel and Ernest. Ernest reads the paper every day eagerly, and is always saying things like: 'Crikey! Hitler's just invaded Russia!' and reacting to world events in the kitchen. Ethel pays little attention and does not much grasp the significance of things. For instance, when told that the Duke and Duchess of Windsor are going to meet with Hitler, her reaction is 'He can't be too bad then.' Raymond does not hesitate to make fun of himself, mocking his own affectations as an art student and his refusal to comb his hair. Every day domesticity is elevated to the status of a mythology in this film, and Alan Bennett's eye for the details of daily life is actually surpassed here, which I would not have thought possible. This film is really a love poem by Raymond Briggs to his parents, whose own lifelong love story is so touchingly revealed to us in all of its minutiae. Rarely can anyone have paid such an intense and devoted tribute to his parents, in any art form. To do so with Briggs's magical drawing talent is so evocative and so moving that we have here what is truly a transcendent work of art. The direction by Roger Mainwood is perfect, and Jim Broadbent's voice for Ernest and Brenda Blethyn's voice for Ethel are beyond perfection. The other voices are also excellent. This film may not have the obvious attraction of snowmen flying through the air, but it soars nevertheless, higher than the air in fact, into a realm of pure love and pure simplicity. Long live real people! And may those who celebrate them always be honoured, as Raymond Briggs deserves to be for many long, long years to come.
    helpful•22
    5
    • robert-temple-1
    • Dec 28, 2016

    Details

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    • Release date
      • February 20, 2018 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Luxembourg
    • Official sites
      • Official Blog
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Ethel and Ernest
    • Production companies
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
      • British Film Institute (BFI)
      • Ffilm Cymru Wales
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross worldwide
      • $179,227
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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