Miss Potter
Chris Noonan (Stepping Out, Babe) directed Miss Potter, the 2006 biopic of children’s author and illustrator Beatrix Potter. The film combines elements from Potter’s life with animated sequences involving characters from her books. Miss Potter was scripted by Richard Maltby Jr. and was filmed in Cecil Court, Covent Garden, and the Isle of Man. The original release date of the film fluctuated several times as the Weinstein Company tried to give the little movie a chance to shine in a crowded awards season. Eventually, Miss Potter was released broadly in December of 2006.
Renee Zellweger stars as Beatrix Potter. The casting once again raised the ire of traditional snobs, as there were questions about an important figure in British literature being cast as an American. The situation mirrored the situation that occurred when Zellweger was cast in the Bridget Jones films. As with that case, the fears were unfounded and Zellweger does a wonderful job in the role. She even earned a Golden Globe nomination, her sixth, for her work in Miss Potter.
Noonan’s film follows Potter as a 30-something single woman living with her social-climbing parents. Her mother, Helen (Barbara Flynn), is exasperated at the idea that Beatrix has turned down all of her potential suitors thus far and looks to remain single without a care in the world. Beatrix has, instead, taken solace in the company of animals and nature. She has made friends with the animals and has involved herself in drawing and writing about them, like she has done since her childhood. Beatrix eventually succeeds in selling her drawings and writings as books and meets Norman Warne (Ewan McGregor). Beatrix and Norman fall in love and life begins to change for Beatrix as she comes into her own.
As usual with these types of biopics, there are those that fuss and fiddle with the idea of historical accuracy and those that enjoy the artist’s rendering of the life of the individual as a film. I fall strictly into the latter category. If I wanted a factual accounting of Beatrix Potter’s life, love, and background, I’d read a biographical book or do some independent study. Because I want to see Potter’s life come to a different sort of artistic realization, Miss Potter is all too suitable to fill that role. Noonan’s film might have muddled the publishing order of some of the books and likely took some liberties with some of the more romantic and dramatic notions of storytelling, but who cares? Noonan has crafted a softly textured little film with Miss Potter and it works to tell his version of the story.
Miss Potter aims to be uplifting and it works on that account. It is an affectionate little film that handles its sorrow with equal parts sweetness and ache. Noonan directs his performers with softness, allowing their range to work with the material to produce a mild film. It works well for families, as its soft tones and gently swaying pace make for a fairly non-obtrusive afternoon viewing. Sadly, Miss Potter is also generally forgettable. It doesn’t resound very well, there is little to no impact, and the performances are simply too unassuming to be memorable. What makes the film effective is also what limits the film’s effectiveness. I’m not sure what could have been done differently, as everything about it seems right. It just doesn’t seem unforgettable.
Zellweger is good here, as she produces a vision of Beatrix Potter that is fragile and determined. Her performance is good and likely deserved the Golden Globe nod, but again there is little to do with range or timing here. Instead, it’s a gentle voyage that stays in one gear throughout. Her chemistry with McGregor is amiable and sweet, too, working with the tempo of the film to keep things balanced. The performances give the whole movie a whimsical feel, which is ideal for a family film of this nature. The villainy of the nagging mother is never too overcooked with Flynn’s performance and the supporting roles nicely blend into the background.
Miss Potter looks great and its cinematography sets it apart from the gentle pathos and romance of Noonan’s pacing. Its lush backdrops and beautiful wide shots of the farming lands and rolling hills really bring home what the region must have looked like through Potter’s eyes. This sort of living tribute is magical in some ways and gives the film the life it seemed to have been looking for.
It’s a mild film that glows with soft hues and warm lights, giving way to a calm story about a tender woman whose gentle characters likely lulled many of us to sleep. In that way, Miss Potter works in the same way of her characters and her world. Noonan’s film may lack the effectiveness to be ultimately memorable to those with no interest in Beatrix Potter’s world, but for those who find themselves enchanted by Peter Rabbit and her host of animal friends, Miss Potter will likely do just fine.
Trailer:
