Ballet Shoes (2008)
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100% of critics liked it
(6 reviews) -
67% of users liked it
(4,446 ratings)
Emma Watson, Yasmin Paige, and Lucy Boynton headline director Sandra Goldbacher's made-for-television adaptation of author Noel Streatfield's classic novel of the same name. The setting is 1930s London. Orphans Pauline (Watson), Petrova (Paige), and Posy Fossil (Boynton) have all been… More Emma Watson, Yasmin Paige, and Lucy Boynton headline director Sandra Goldbacher's made-for-television adaptation of author Noel Streatfield's classic novel of the same name. The setting is 1930s London. Orphans Pauline (Watson), Petrova (Paige), and Posy Fossil (Boynton) have all been adopted by eccentric explorer Professor Brown (aka "Gum"), and raised as sisters by Brown's benevolent niece Sylvia (Emilia Fox). Before the three girls get to know their adventurous adoptive father, however, Gum vanishes for over a decade. Though her faithful retainer, Nana (Victoria Wood), does her best to keep the family afloat, Sylvia simply can't keep up with the demands of raising a family, and her health begins to deteriorate. Eventually, faced with dwindling financial resources, she decides to take in lodgers. Those who arrive as household guests include the lively academics Dr. Smith (Harriet Walter) and Dr. Jakes (Gemma Jones), plus curvy dance instructor Theo Dane (Lucy Cohu) and kind-but-pensive Mr. Simpson (Marc Warren). As the nontraditional family begins to see their lives changed by these new arrivals in ways that they never anticipated, Pauline, Petrova, and Posy enroll in the local theater school and set about establishing themselves as stars of the stage. But while Pauline dreams of becoming a world-famous actress and Posy longs to grow into a graceful ballerina, Petrova just wants to take to the sky as an aviator. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Directed By
- Sandra Goldbacher
- Written By
- Heidi Thomas
- Genres
- Drama, Kids & Family
PG,
- In Theaters
- Aug 26, 2008 Wide
- Studio
- Koch Vision
Critic Reviews
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Joanne Kaufman, Wall Street Journal
[A] pleasant if uninspired adaptation of Noel Streatfeild's children's classic.
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Nancy Davis Kho, Common Sense Media
Sisters learn value of love, work, and sacrifice.
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Louise Keller, Urban Cinefile
There are plenty of pleasures in this involving and uplifting tale which the young protagonists aspire to be actors, aviators and ballerinas
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Betty Jo Tucker, ReelTalk Movie Reviews
While watching 'Ballet Shoes,' I felt like a time machine had transported me to London in the 1930s, then set me in the midst of this wonderful humanistic story.
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Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
It's a caloric helping of melodrama, but it's rendered effective by the exceptional performances and observant direction by the vastly talented Sandra Goldbacher.
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Cast
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Emilia Fox
as Sylvia
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Emma Watson
as Pauline Fossil
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Yasmin Paige
as Petrova Fossil
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Lucy Boynton
as Posy Fossil
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Victoria Wood
as Nana
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Marc Warren
as Mr. Simpson
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Lucy Cohu
as Theo Dane
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Gemma Jones
as Dr. Jakes
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Harriet Walter
as Dr. Smith
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Eileen Atkins
as Madama Fidolia
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Heather Nicol
as Winifred
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Mary Stockley
as Miss Jay
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Teresa Churcher
as Clara
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Skye Bennett
as Young Sylvia
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Peter Bowles
as Sir Donald Houghton
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Don Gallagher
as Mr. French
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Adrian Lester
as Mr. Sholsky
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Gresby Nash
as Leopold Neville
