Dear Frankie
by Shona Auerbach
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Emily Mortimer, Gerard Butler, Jack McElhone, Sharon SmallDirector: Shona Auerbach
Brand: Buena Vista Home Video
Producer: Caroline Wood
Writer: Andrea Gibb
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 5.1; Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: NTSC
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 105 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2012-01-06
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: LIONSGATE
Movie Reviews of Dear Frankie
Movie Review: Simple, Affectionate Scottish Character Study Resonates With Unexpected Depth
Summary: 5 Stars
I came upon this small-scale 2004 British film simply because it was recommended within a professional review of the recent romantic dramedy about grieving, P.S., I Love You. Both movies deal with how a woman insulates herself from pain by creating a fantasy which merely delays moving on from the tragedy causing her pain. They also share the presence of the charismatic Gerard Butler (300, The Phantom of the Opera) as the object of the woman's fantasy. The difference is that P.S., I Love You is an execrable, episodic mess, whereas this film is a quiet, underappreciated gem well worth discovering on DVD. Free of the Hollywood-manufactured cynicism that would have made this movie seem predictably trite, first-time director Shona Auerbach also handles the painterly camerawork here, and she shows a true affinity for the power of still images and thoughtful scene composition throughout. The pacing is leisurely reflecting Auerbach's skill in harnessing the emotional power of silence and lingering stares, which she does to great effect here.
Written by Andrea Gibb, the plot focuses on Frankie, classroom geography whiz and a true old soul in the body of a nine-year old. He has just moved to Scotland's chilly Clyde Coast with his devoted but extremely cautious mother Lizzie and his no-nonsense grandmother. As it turns out, Lizzie is on the run from Frankie's father, a fearsome situation that has caused her to create a fantasy to protect her son. She writes letters to Frankie pretending to be his father, a seafarer sailing the globe on a tanker randomly named the Accra, and he writes back with pride and enthusiasm. Lizzie's reason to continue the charade is poignant - it's the only way he can "hear" Frankie's voice since he is deaf. However, complications occur when the real Accra is scheduled to dock, and Lizzie scrambles to find a man willing to play Frankie's father for a day to keep the fantasy alive. Even though the set-up sounds fraught with sentimental contrivances, Auerbach and Gibb manage to avoid most of the pitfalls with their clear-eyed but consistently involving approach.
The child-centric perspective immediately reminds me of two other masterful films of this genre, Jan Svìrák's Kolya and Takeshi Kitano's Kikujiro. All three gain a deep emotional resonance from the connection between a child and an unintended father figure. There is a palpable bond between Butler and Jack McElhone, who plays Frankie with an honest expressiveness. Their simple scenes together are heartbreaking for the seemingly ephemeral nature of their true relationship. Known more for his action roles, Butler brings a surprisingly doleful, enigmatic quality to the merchant seaman who comes to Lizzie's rescue initially for the financial reward but begins to realize how empty his transitory existence has been. Although he doesn't show up until forty minutes into the film, his subtle performance leaves the lasting impression necessary to make the ruse work. Holding the story together is Emily Mortimer (Lars and the Real Girl, Match Point), who pierces the heart as Lizzie with her fierce determination and increasing vulnerability. She and Butler share an audaciously lengthy shot where they simply stare at each other at the doorway before kissing.
Supporting roles are filled expertly by Mary Riggans as Frankie's protective grandmother and especially Sharon Small as Lizzie's tart-tongued shop-owner friend Marie. The ending has a parable-like quality that will likely be dismissed by the more cynically minded. Personally, I find it the ideal blend of hopeful and heartbreaking. Actually, the entire movie plays out that way, and Auerbach and Gibb deserve credit for maintaining the delicacy of this balance with such unerring aplomb. The extras on the 2005 DVD include an informative commentary track from Auerbach, who is obviously quite vested in the film from her lucid explanations of each scene. There is a brief making-of featurette made up of film clips and on-set video alternating with quick interviews with Auerbach, producer Caroline Wood and the principal cast. Rounding out the extras are a longer interview with Auerbach, repetitive if you have heard the commentary, and eight deleted scenes, some just seconds long. The best is the extended dance sequence which employs black-and-white slow motion to bring an otherworldly sense to what is going on. This is a splendid, life-affirming picture, and hopefully the DVD will bring a broader audience to this hidden gem.
Summary of Dear Frankie
This touching and humorous movie has earned the raves of critics and won the hearts of audiences everywhere! To spare the feelings of her fatherless boy, Lizzie (Emily Mortimer -Disney's The Kid ) secretly authors letters from his "father" that detail seafaring adventures from around the world. But she cannot maintain this illusion forever. Torn between exposing the truth and protecting her son, Lizzie gets more than anyone bargained for when she hires a handsome stranger (Gerard Butler -The Phantom Of The Opera, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle Of Life ) to play the role of a lifetime! Winner at both the Heartland Film Festival and the Seattle International Film Festival, this entertaining motion picture is sure to touch your heart!This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.
Driven by intelligent, constantly surprising and moving performances from the film's leads, Dear Frankie stars Emily Mortimer (Lovely and Amazing) as Lizzie, Scottish mother of Frankie (Jack McElhone), a deaf and highly intelligent 9-year-old. Constantly uprooting themselves and relocating from town to town, Lizzie and Frankie are on the run from the latter's abusive father, a fact unknown to the boy, who believes his dad is a busy seaman sending letters full of adventure and love. In fact, Lizzie is writing those missives, but she is faced with a challenge when Frankie discovers his father's ship will dock nearby. Lizzie hires a kind, handsome stranger (Gerard Butler) to play Frankie's dad, creating an odd situation in which ever-growing lies become a conduit for love, and Lizzie's repressed desires come to the fore with a man posing as her husband. The moral tangles are of interest in director Shona Auerbach's charmingly paced, quietly insightful drama-comedy, but so is the glorious feeling of watching these characters come fully alive. --Tom Keogh
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