Monika’s Pensieve

I am finally up to date with my film diary *grin* Which means I haven’t watched any films in over 2 weeks - my BA project is really taking too much of my time *sigh* No wonder I have withdrawal symptoms from not watching enough films…

{FILM DIARY}

Ballet Shoes (UK, 2007)

Seen: Tuesday, 11th August 2009 (DVD)
Runtime: 90′
Director: Sandra Goldbacher
Cast: Emilia Fox, Victoria Wood, Emma Watson, Yasmin Paige, Lucy Boynton, Richard Griffiths, Marc Warren, Lucy Cohu, Gemma Jones, Harriet Walter, Eileen Atkins, Heather Nicol
Production House: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Granada Television
Plot: (from imdb)

The story of three orphan girls (Pauline, Petrova, and Posy), adopted by an eccentric explorer, Great Uncle Matthew, and his niece Sylvia, in 1930s London.

Trailer

Impressions In Short
A good, very watchable TV drama with loads of women in it (there are hardly any male characters in this, seriously).

More About the Film
For a TV drama this was high standard. The cinematography in particular really stood out and it’s a very nice story (though I felt it ended a bit abruptly). But, as my mum put it, it lacked oomph. It had the potential to be great rather than just good, but somehow it just didn’t get there.
The casting was very good, but I didn’t think all the performances were quite nailed. In particular the three Fossils… They were all cast well and the potential was there in each of them, but somehow it didn’t quite materialize.
Naturally, my main focus was Emma Watson and I had mixed feelings. She had some good moments (especially in scenes where Pauline was vulnerable), but overall it seemed to me like she was a bit too self-conscious.
I found it quite curious that this is the film she chose to finally venture outside of Potter. In a way she’s played it the safest of all the young Potter actors so far. It’s very much a PG movie (almost a U actually, Potter has more “inappropriate content” than this) and it’s also a part which, if I’d read it, I’d have no trouble imagining her in. And I’m not bashing her for making a choice like this, btw. The story was great and very female-centric, so I totally see why making this film would appeal to her. It’s just kind of interesting that her only feature film outside of Potter is this one. I think she’s still going to have to “break out” more if people are to take her seriously as an actress.
One thing this has reinforced in me though, is that I’m definitely going to follow her future career quite closely cause I think I like her taste in scripts and directors (her favourite Potter director is Cuaron apparently *grin*) and actresses (you should hear her talking about Helena Bonham-Carter). So we’re a good match me and her ;)

Recommended?
If you’re in the mood for a good, female-centric and very British TV drama then yes, definitely :) But it’s not a must see, either.