Dear Frankie (2004)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Shona Auerbach

Writer:

Andrea Gibb (screenplay)

Release Date:

16 March 2005 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

After having responded to her son's numerous letters in the guise of his father, a woman hires a stranger to pose as his dad when meeting him.

Plot Keywords:

Stranger | Letter | Sailor | Deaf Boy | Ship

Awards:

8 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Emily Mortimer	...	Lizzie
Jack McElhone	...	Frankie
Mary Riggans	...	Nell
Sharon Small	...	Marie
Sophie Main	...	Serious Girl
Katy Murphy	...	Miss MacKenzie
Sean Brown	...	Ricky Monroe
Jayd Johnson	...	Catriona
Anna Hepburn	...	Headmistress
Rony Bridges	...	Post Office Clerk
Douglas Stewart Wallace	...	Stamp Shop Keeper
Elaine M. Ellis	...	Librarian (as Elaine Mackenzie Ellis)
Carolyn Calder	...	Barmaid
John Kazek	...	Ally
Gerard Butler	...	The Stranger
Garry Collins	...	Waiter
Anne Marie Timoney	...	Janet
Maureen Johnson	...	Singer
Andrea Gibb	...	Waitress
Cal Macaninch	...	Davey
Sharon MacKenzie	...	Staff Nurse
Jonathan Pender	...	Frankie (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Harrison	...	Pub Character (uncredited)

Directed by
Shona Auerbach

Writing credits
Andrea Gibb		(screenplay)

Produced by
Gillian Berrie	....	co-producer
Stephen Evans	....	executive producer
Angus Finney	....	executive producer
Matthew T. Gannon	....	co-producer
François Ivernel	....	executive producer
Brian Kaczynski	....	line producer
Cameron McCracken	....	executive producer
Duncan Reid	....	executive producer
Caroline Wood	....	producer

Original Music by
Alex Heffes

Cinematography by
Shona Auerbach		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Oral Norrie Ottey

Casting by
Des Hamilton

Production Design by
Jennifer Kernke

Art Direction by
Margaret Horspool

Costume Design by
Carole K. Millar

Makeup Department
Laura Hill	....	makeup assistant
Irene Napier	....	hair designer
Irene Napier	....	makeup designer

Production Management
Alistair Hopkins	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marissa Carrera	....	third assistant director (as Marissa Carrara)
Joe Geary	....	first assistant director
Michael Queen	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Brian Adams	....	carpenter (as Brian John Adams)
Alan Ashby	....	plasterer
Muir Balfour	....	carpenter
Brian Boyne	....	stagehand (as Brian A. Boyne)
Tristan Carlisle-Kitz	....	dressing propsman
Paul Curren	....	chargehand painter
Sam Curren	....	painter
Colin H. Fraser	....	construction manager (as Colin Fraser)
Derek Fraser	....	construction chargehand
Iain Geddes	....	painter
Richard Hassall	....	stand-by construction
Caroline McDonald	....	art department assistant (as Caroline MacDonald)
Gemma McGeadie	....	art trainee: RSAMD
Elaine McLenachan	....	production buyer
Tim Monroe	....	stand-by art director
Danny Oji	....	plasterer (as Daniel C. Oji)
Danny Oji	....	stagehand (as Daniel C. Oji)
Bob Orr	....	prop master
Neil Querns	....	carpenter
Lucy Vaughan	....	art trainee: Scottish Screen
Angus West	....	laborer
Billy Wilson	....	dressing propsman
Billy Wilson	....	stand-by rigger
Ross Wilson	....	stand-by props

Sound Department
Peter Brill	....	location sound mixer
Edward Bulman	....	foley editor (as Ed Bulman)
Edward Bulman	....	foley recordist (as Ed Bulman)
Mike Grimes	....	assistant sound effects editor
Cy Jack	....	adr recordist: Glasgow
Dan Johnson	....	assistant dubbing mixer
Hugh Johnson	....	dubbing mixer
Bronek Korda	....	adr recordist: Glasgow
Melissa Lake	....	foley artist
Alastair Mason	....	boom operator
Kenny McLeod	....	assistant adr recordist
Marcus Oliver	....	dubbing assistant
Jeremy Price	....	supervising sound editor
Andrew Stirk	....	adr editor
Graeme Stoten	....	adr recordist
Jason Swanscott	....	foley artist
Hilary Wyatt	....	supervising dialogue editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Stuart Anderson	....	camera trainee: Scottish Screen
Jaspreet Bal	....	focus puller: second camera (as Jazprette Bal)
Anna Benbow	....	clapper loader: second camera
Neil Davidson	....	still photographer
Arthur Donnelly	....	electrician (as Arthur Donnely)
Graeme Dunn	....	camera operator
Kevin Higgins	....	grip
Paul McGeachan	....	gaffer
Brian McGee	....	generator operator
Campbell McIntosh	....	electrician (as Campbell Macintosh)
Alan McSheehy	....	camera operator: second camera
Kevin O'Brien	....	focus puller
Jan Pester	....	Steadicam operator
Julia Robinson	....	clapper loader
Gary Thompson	....	best boy (as Garry Thompson)
Mark Tillie	....	special still photographer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Abigail Barbier	....	adr voice casting
Kahleen Crawford	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lesley Abernethy	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Nicola Armstrong	....	post-production coordinator
Rachel Connors	....	post-production assistant
Steve Ferguson	....	editor trainee: Scottish Screen (as Steven Ferguson)
Steven Forrester	....	first assistant editor
Sarah Hughes	....	negative checker

Music Department
Gemma Dempsey	....	music supervisor
David Juritz	....	orchestra leader
Ian MacPherson	....	orchestrator (as Ian Macpherson)
Steve Price	....	music recording engineer
Andy Richards	....	music mixer: Out of Eden
Hilary Skewes	....	musician contractor
Sam Southwick	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Brian Boyne	....	driver (as Brian A. Boyne)
Jas Brown	....	unit driver
Tommy Bryce	....	unit driver
Jim Cardy	....	driver: facilities
Jeff Derby	....	driver: facilities (as Jeffrey Derby)
Roddy Garden	....	driver: props runaround
Paul Heavey	....	driver: camera car
Robbie Kirkpatrick	....	driver: minibus
Bill McKeller	....	driver: facilities
Stuart McKeller	....	driver: facilities

Other crew
Lindsey Alexander	....	chaperone
Alison Brister	....	legal affairs: Ingenious Films
Jo Cameron Brown	....	dialogue coach
Alison Campbell	....	production coordinator
Claire Chapman	....	head of production: Scottish Screen
Sue Clegg	....	script supervisor (as Suzanne Clegg)
Miglet Crichton	....	assistant location manager
Brendan Diver	....	catering manager
Linsey Donnelly	....	chaperone
Pierre Du Plessis	....	legal and business affairs executive: Pathé Pictures (as Pierre du Plessis)
Simon Fawcett	....	financial director: Pathé Pictures
Linda Fraser	....	accounting assistant
Graham Galloway	....	floor runner
Graham Galloway	....	stand-in
Celine Haddad	....	head of creative affairs: Pathé Pictures
Carol-Anne Henderson	....	floor runner
Carol-Anne Henderson	....	stand-in
Sarah Hughes	....	rights and clearances
John Jaggon	....	accounts: Ingenious Films
Paula Jalfon	....	physical production: Ingenious Films
Wendy Kidd	....	unit publicist
Scott Leadbetter	....	production trainee: Scottish Screen
Susie Lee	....	floor runner
Susie Lee	....	stand-in
Ranald Maclean	....	production runner (as Ranald MacLean)
Myra McCormick	....	tutor
Janice McElhone	....	chaperone
Steve McIntyre	....	chief executive: Scottish Screen
Jack Myles	....	legal and business affairs executive: Pathé Pictures
Joan Napier	....	tutor
Frederico Piacentini	....	caterer
Carole Sheridan	....	head of development: Scottish Screen
Shaw Statham	....	production accountant
Stef Swiatek	....	unit nurse coordinator (as Stefania Swiatek)
Beverley Syme	....	location manager
Alison Thompson	....	head of international sales: Pathé Pictures
Derek Todd	....	deaf advisor
Alison Wallace	....	floor trainee: Scottish Screen
Lucy Warnes	....	deaf advisor
Michael Wilson	....	assistant coordinator
Susanna Wyatt	....	head of physical production: Pathé Pictures
Jacqueline Wylie	....	location trainee: Scottish Screen
Derek Yeaman	....	band organizer
Gordon Carroll	....	advisor: philately (uncredited)

Thanks
Elza Auerbach	....	special thanks
Peter Auerbach	....	special thanks
Mary Brehony	....	special thanks
Lee Bye	....	special thanks
Leonard Crooks	....	special thanks (as Lenny Crooks)
Will Davies	....	special thanks
Anna Duffield	....	special thanks
Dixie Goddard	....	special thanks
Tony Goddard	....	special thanks
Wendy Goddard	....	special thanks
Abi Leland	....	special thanks
Gillane Lister	....	special thanks
Abigail Payne	....	special thanks
Angus Pigott	....	special thanks: Sigma Films (as Angus Pigot)
Natasha Ross	....	special thanks
Sarah Sulick	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Pathé Pictures International (presents) (as Pathé Pictures)
• UK Film Council (in association with)
• Scottish Screen (in association with)
• Scorpio Films
• Sigma Films (in association with)
• Inside Track Productions (produced in association with)

Distributors

• Miramax Films (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• Pathé Distributors (2004) (worldwide) (theatrical)
• 1More Film (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International Italia (2005) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Cinequanon (2006) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Monopole-Pathé (2005) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Pathé (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Oy Nordisk Film (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Wise Policy (2005) (Japan) (all media)

Special Effects

• Capital FX (digital/optical effects)

Other Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance (as AON/Albert G. Ruben)
• Angel Studios  original score recorded at
• Arion Facilities  telecine transfers
• Buchanan Street Stamps  special thanks
• Capital FX  title design
• Cutting Edge  negative cutting
• Film Finance  completion guarantor (as Film Finances Inc.)
• Freeway CAM B.V.  world revenues collected and distributed by
• Glasgow City Council  special thanks
• Glasgow Film Office  special thanks
• Harbottle & Lewis  legal services provided by (as Harbottle and Lewis)
• Hyperactive  cutting room equipment
• Inverclyde Council  special thanks
• Kodak  motion picture film
• Lee Lighting America  lighting equipment (as Lee Lighting Ltd.)
• National Lottery  made with the support of
• Out of Eden  music mixed at
• Pathé International  international sales agency
• Pearce Institute  special thanks
• Radio Clyde  special thanks
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script
• Strathclyde Police  special thanks
• V.F.G.  camera equipment (as VFG)
• Videosonics Cinema Sound  sound re-recording (as Videosonics)

Also Known As:

Natural History (UK) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | British Sign Language

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:12 (video rating) (2005) | UK:12A (edited for re-rating) | UK:15 (original rating) | Malaysia:U | Finland:K-7 | Iceland:LH | Iceland:LH (video rating) | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Hong Kong:I | Netherlands:AL | USA:PG-13 | Brazil:10 | Spain:13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Buchanan Street Stamps, Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK

Company:

Pathé Pictures International

Trivia:

Jack McElhone (Frankie) is not deaf but worked with a speech coach so that his one spoken line would sound correct.

Goofs:

Continuity: In one of Frankie's letters to his dad, the text of the letter does not correspond to the voiceover. We hear Frankie say, "Ricky Munroe told me. Trust him to put his big feet right in it." but the letter reads, "Trust him to put his size threes right in it."

Quotes:

The Stranger: Frankie's a very... very lucky boy.
Lizzie: How'd you figure that one out? I'm his mother and I lie to him every single day.
The Stranger: No. No, you protect him every single day

Soundtrack:

Lost in the Shuffle

A subtly written and acted film

I saw the movie last night in Los Angeles - it's only playing at a couple of theaters. Other reviews undoubtedly explain the premise of this film so I'll dispense with that . . .

Folks looking for a lot of exposition or for a film that screams "Hey! Look over here!!", or Gerry Butler fans looking for some of that famous sex appeal should be warned. This film is very subtly written and acted. Much of the story is told on the characters' faces, on what that tells you about what is going on internally within the characters. The characters aren't archetypes (i.e., villain, precocious kid, cynical older woman) but real and complex people who like the rest of us face life without histrionics or mugging for the camera. No plots are hatched but we see choices have been made in increments so that the idea of hiring a "stranger" to play dad does not seem contrived. I disagree that the audience is being manipulated; in fact, what could be a predictable manipulative ending is not, and is left to the viewer to interpret. The film tells you a story but doesn't try to tell you how to feel about it. Even the music is simple and subtle, no sweeping rifts to get your emotions going. It is a quiet film with a good story and people you end up caring about - as if you'd peered into their lives for a few days.