DEAR FRANKIE

Year: 2004
USA: Miramax Films
UK: Pathe Distribution
Cast: Emily Mortimer, Gerard Butler, Sharon Small, Jack McElhone, Mary Riggans, Jayd Johnson, Sean Brown, Cal Macaninch, John Kazek, Katy Murphy, Anna Hepburn, Sophie Main, Anne Marie Timoney
Director: Shona Auerbach
Country: UK
UK: 103 mins
USA Rated: PG-13 for language
UK Certificate: 12A contains infrequent strong language
USA Release Date: 4 March 2005 (Limited Release Los Angeles and New York)
UK Release Date: 21 January 2005
US Distributor

Synopsis

Nine year-old Frankie (Jack McElhone) and his single mum Lizzie (Emily Mortimer) have been on the move ever since Frankie can remember, most recently arriving in a seaside Scottish town. Wanting to protect her deaf son from the truth that they have run away from his father, Lizzie has invented a story that he is away at sea on HMS Accra. Every few weeks, Lizzie writes Frankie a make-believe letter from his father, telling of his adventures in exotic lands.

As Frankie tracks the ship's progress round the globe, he discovers that it is due to dock in his hometown. With the real HMS Accra arriving in only a fortnight, Lizzie must choose between telling Frankie the truth or finding the perfect stranger to play Frankie's father for just one day.

It is the feature directing debut of SHONA AUERBACH, a successful commercials director whose short film SEVEN won several awards including the UIP/Paramount Award for Best Short Film and the British Council Award for Best Short Film at the British Short Film Festival.

DVD EXTRAS

Language: English/ English HOH

Directors commentary and interviews
Original theatrical trailer
Deleted scenes with optional director commentary
'Seven' short film