Movie Review: Miss Potter
Once upon a time, there were 4 little rabbits: Peter, Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail
Miss Potter is a 2006 biographical drama film directed by Australian film-maker, Chris Noonan (whom directed “Babe”). It is based on the life of children’s author and illustrator Beatrix Potter, and combines stories from her own life with animated sequences featuring characters from her stories, such as Peter Rabbit.
Beatrix Potter (28 July 1866 to 22 December 1943) was an English writer and illustrator, natural scientist and conservationist.
Starring Renee Zellweger this 92 minute docu-drama is enjoyable and interesting to watch, for older children and adults alike; especially if you have no idea about the background of this writer, who is famous for her endearing rabbit and other tales.
While some reviews say the film lacked tension and purpose, the aim of a documentary drama is to document facts; and “Miss Potter” does that well, at a good pace and with well selected actors.
Beatrix loved to paint and draw. Two of Beatrix’s earliest artist models were her pet rabbits. After being rejected by several publishers, Beatrix decided to publish her book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit herself, printing an initial 250 copies for family and friends in December 1901.
Renee portrays Beatrix Potter excellently, and Ewan McGregor is Norman Warne, her editor and Beatrix’s first love. The film shows how intimate Miss Potter was with her animal characters, and portrays her strength of will, raised in an affluent family, but fighting the social mores or expectations of her parents and society.
This engaging, straightforward tale of Beatrix Potter, with stunning cinematography, also delves into Miss Potter’s endeavours after handsomely earning for her books, where she becomes a major landowner in the Lake District in the early 1900s, and helps preserve the area from developers.
The film received generally positive reviews and earned Zellweger her sixth Golden Globe nomination. It was filmed in Cecil Court, Osterley Park, Covent Garden, the Isle of Man, Scotland and the Lake District.
Miss Potter was released on 29 December 2006 so that the film could compete for the 2007 Academy Awards. If you get a chance to watch this, I recommend “Miss Potter”.
“Today, more than two million Beatrix Potter books are sold across the world every year — four books every minute. The charming stories have a timeless quality, passed down from generation to generation and are discovered anew by many more readers each year.
Beatrix Potter’s books, her art, her Herdwick sheep and her indomitable spirit are all part of her enormous legacy that continues to this day.”
Reference: https://www.peterrabbit.com/about-beatrix-potter
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