Film: Miss Potter

Studio: The Weinstein Company and Phoenix Pictures

Director: Chris Noonan

Principal Actors: Renee Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, Emily Watson

DVD Release Date: June 18, 2007

Film length: 93 minutes

Rating: PG

4 ½ stars

Reviewed By: Deborah Ground Buckner

Miss Potter, the story of Beatrix Potter's efforts to see her works published, is as charming and enchanting as the works themselves. From the opening credits, where we see the tools of a writer and illustrator being prepared for use—pencils sharpened, paintbrushes selected, watercolors mixed—and put to their application, it is clear this is a story of creation.

The story begins with Beatrix Potter (Renne Zellweger), a happily unmarried woman in her thirties (an embarrassing circumstance for her mother), showing her work to the Warne Publishing Company. The publishing partners reluctantly agree to publish her story of the misadventures of a little rabbit in a blue jacket. But they push the project off on a younger brother, Norman Warne (Ewan McGregor), who has recently asserted his right to join the family business.

Norman truly believes in The Tale of Peter Rabbit, and working closely with Beatrix (including taking her along to the printing house, another embarrassment for her mother), produces a book that becomes a brilliant success. Visiting Norman's home, Beatrix finds a kindred spirit in his sister, Millie (Emily Watson), another unmarried woman making her own way in the world.

As a romance develops between Beatrix and Norman, Beatrix finds herself facing new questions she had thought would not apply to her life. All the while, her work continues with more stories of her animal friends, such as Jemima Puddle-Duck. Through subtle animation, we see the characters as alive as they are to Beatrix.

Bill Paterson and Barbara Flynn offer fine support as Beatrix's understanding, would-be artist father and social-climbing mother. Special mention is also earned by Lucy Boynton as young Beatrix.

This film is a celebration of stories on all levels: The birth of an idea, the creation of a tale, the production of a book, and the greatest story of all—the evolution of a life.