Is Anybody There? (2008)

Director:

John Crowley

Writer:

Peter Harness (writer)

Release Date:

1 May 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

"Set in 1980s seaside England, this is the story of Edward, an unusual ten year old boy growing up in an old people's home run by his parents...

Plot Keywords:

Magician | Card Trick | Entertainer | Question Mark In Title | Cemetery

Cast

Michael Caine	...	Clarence
Bill Milner	...	Edward
Anne-Marie Duff	...	Mum
David Morrissey	...	Dad
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Thelma Barlow	...	Ena
Linzey Cocker	...	Tanya
Adam Drinkall	...	Stuart
James Gilbert	...	Tanya's New Boyfriend
Garrick Hagon	...	Douglas
Keith Hargreaves	...	Bus driver
Rosemary Harris	...	Elsie
Ralph Ineson	...	Mr. Kelly
Angie Inwards	...	Mavis
Charli Janeway	...	Guy Who Walks
Karl Johnson	...	Arthur
Miles Jupp	...	Vicar
Michael Keogh	...	Paramedic
Leslie Phillips	...	Reg
Ralph Riach	...	Clive
Elizabeth Spriggs	...	Prudence
Sylvia Syms	...	Lilian
Andrew Turner	...	Undertaker
Peter Vaughan	...	Bob

Also Known As:

Is Anybody There? (UK) (new title) (USA)
Is There Anybody There? (Canada: English title) (festival title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language including sexual references, and some disturbing images.

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | UK:12A | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (British Columbia/Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Chalfont St. Giles, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

BBC Films

Trivia:

The last film of Elizabeth Spriggs. She died during post production.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Loose Women: (#13.161)" (2009)

An understated gem

What a pure delight this film was.

Maybe its because I also grew up in the 80's (albeit not in an old folks home) that the twinge of nostalgia attached to this film drew me in more than others. The decor was instantly recognisable and reminiscent of my grandparents house!

I am a stereotypical British Michael Caine fan so I am unashamedly biased but all that considered I genuinely believe this to be one of his shinning moments.

The script was well structured & the direction natural - I believed in those characters, in fact I almost felt like I might have met some of them a long time ago.

Funny, touching, charming and yes most definitely a bit sad but sad in the nicest and most uplifting way possible.

Was this a comedy, was it a drama??? I'm not sure, what I am sure about is that there aren't enough films like this.

If you like run of the mill Hollywood films you wont like this – if you like films with a touch of humanity that make you think a little, go see it - trust me.