Miss Potter is a 2006 biographical drama film directed by Chris Noonan. 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. Scripted by Richard Maltby Jr., the director of the Tony Award-winning Broadway revue, Fosse, the film stars Renée Zellweger in the title role, Ewan McGregor as her publisher and fiancé, Norman Warne, and Lloyd Owen as solicitor William Heelis. Emily Watson stars as Warne's sister, Millie. Lucy Boynton also stars as the young Beatrix Potter and Justin McDonald appears as the young William Heelis. It was filmed in St. Peter's Square Hammersmith, Cecil Court, Osterley Park, Covent Garden, the Isle of Man, Scotland and the Lake District.
PLOT
In 1902, Beatrix Potter and her chaperon, Miss Wiggin, visit the publishing house of Harold and Fruing Warne, who decide to publish her The Tale of Peter Rabbit. While Beatrix is thrilled, behind closed doors the Warnes think her book is ridiculous and only agree to publish it because they promised their younger brother, Norman, a project.Norman and Beatrix meet, and realise they share a vision for her work. As production on the book begins, Norman introduces Beatrix to his mother, and his unmarried sister, Millie, who befriends Beatrix. Tensions rise in the Potter household, as Beatrix's social-climbing mother, Helen, is unhappy about her daughter spending time in the company of tradesmen, and she believes that the book venture will fail.
However, the book sales are very successful, and Norman encourages Beatrix to submit other stories for publication. Eventually, Beatrix's father, Rupert, voices his support of Beatrix's writing career, after hearing about the popularity of her books from his friends at the Reform Club. Encouraged, Beatrix invites Norman and Millie to her family's Christmas party. Beatrix shows Norman a story she is writing especially for him, "The Rabbits' Christmas Party", giving him a drawing from the story as a present. Finally left unchaperoned, Norman proposes to Beatrix, and she happily accepts.
Beatrix's parents disapprove of the match, but she stands firm, reminding her mother that both her grandfathers were tradesmen. Beatrix learns that not only can she survive on her own with her books, but that she is now a wealthy woman from her royalty earnings. Her parents eventually suggest that Beatrix and Norman keep their engagement secret for the summer months, and promise that they can marry if their feelings remain unchanged after three months. The Potters holiday in the Lake District, and Beatrix and Norman maintain a regular correspondence.
After a few days without a letter from Norman, Beatrix receives a message from Millie, informing her that he is ill. Beatrix travels back to London only to find that Norman has died. A grieving Beatrix shuts herself up in her room; she turns to her drawing, but discovers that her characters disappear off the page. Millie comes to visit and comfort her, and Beatrix decides she must leave the family home.
Beatrix buys a farm in the country in the Lake District and moves there to resume her work. She hires a farmhand to run the farm and finds comfort in her surroundings. Millie visits, returning the painting of The Rabbits' Christmas Party. With the help of her solicitor, William Heelis, Beatrix outbids developers at auctions and buys many other farms and land in the area to preserve nature.
A textual epilogue reveals Beatrix, to her mother's disapproval, married William eight years after moving to the Lake District. The land she purchased formed part of the Lake District National Park in North West England, while her stories became the best-selling children's books of all time.
Rating: 10 Stars
