Story
Miss Potter is the story of Beatrix Potter’s rise to fame through her creative tales of the animals she sees as her friends. They include Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle-Duck.
At a time when women of 32 are expected to be married, Beatrix Potter (Renee Zellwegger) is a single woman with career ambitions. She faces many obstacles as her pictures and stories are deemed silly and childish by her family and the town’s publishers. She is given her first break by a new publisher, Norman Warne (Ewan McGregor), whose abilities are also being challenged. Warne falls in love with Potter’s little tales. Together they successfully publish the books that have become the most well-known children’s stories in the world.
As Beatrix’s animal friends come to life as popular children’s books, love between Beatrix and Norman also grows. Their love is overshadowed by parental disapproval, and Beatrix seeks solace and encouragement in her new friend Millie, Norman’s sister (Emily Watson). The love story is marred by tragedy, but Beatrix finds happiness in the beauty of the Lake District where she settles.
Themes
Death of a loved one; the position of women in society
Violence
There is no violence in this movie.
Content that may disturb children
Younger children might need an explanation of Beatrix’s reaction to her separation from her fiance Norman and her grief when he dies.
Sexual references
None
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
- Beatrix’s chaperone drinks a glass of wine or two, then Norman tries to intoxicate her with sherry so he can have a moment alone with Beatrix.
- Several guests drink alcohol at a Christmas party held at Beatrix’s parents home.
Nudity and sexual activity
None of concern
Product placement
None
Coarse language
None
Ideas to discuss with your children
Miss Potter is a captivating portrayal of the life story of Beatrix Potter. It features enchanting animation and scenery. It is a story that will appeal particularly to those who have loved and grown up with the Beatrix Potter stories.
Potter’s imagination, passion and determination make her a strong role model, particularly for adolescent girls. The movie successfully demonstrates the constraints placed on women during this era.
You might like to talk about the values in this movie, such as:
- friendship and love
- believing in your dreams
- ambition and determination.
You could also talk with your child about the importance of environmental issues such as land preservation, one of Beatrix Potter’s ambitions.