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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.

Sexual references

None

Alcohol, drugs and other substances

There is some use of substances in this movie, including:

  • Norman attempts to intoxicate Beatrix’s chaperone with sherry, after she has consumed a glass of wine or two, so that he may have a moment alone with Beatrix
  • Throughout the Christmas party held at Beatrix’s parents home, a number of guests are seen to be drinking glasses of alcohol

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.

Supported By

  • Department of Social Services

Raising Children Network is supported by the Australian Government. Member organisations are the Parenting Research Centre and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute with The Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Community Child Health.

Member Organisations

  • Parenting Research Centre
  • The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne
  • Murdoch Children's Research Institute

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