I watched a DVD of this last night for the 1st time since seeing its original run on TV in Nov/Dec 1992; exactly 30 years to the day it would appear !
This production is highly (and I mean highly !) evocative of happy days in the early 90's, when the world was a far more wholesome and decent place! It's from the days when the BBC would create a simple production - particularly childrens' productions, with professional yet simple acting, simple sets, simple graphics, and just generally reflective of simpler days.
Essentially it's based on the classic childrens' books by Mary Norton; sadly she died just a few months before this was put on TV ! The 'Borrowers' - little people just a few inches tall, live under floorboards or inside shoes and kettles, and 'borrow' food and essential commodities from the 'big' (ie: human) people, while trying to escape their cruel means of 'pest control'.
The lifestyle and object proportions are cleverly and perfectly executed throughout. Clothes made from carpet with enormous buttons, jumbo-sized cordage, pans made from bottle tops with paper clips attached, playing cards for wallpaper, dolls' house utensils and furniture, even humungous pencils being held by the nib. All kinda suggestive of 'Honey, I Shrunk The Kids' !
Unlike many BBC childrens' productions that use otherwise unknown actors - particularly children, there is a relatively high-profile set here. Ian Holm and Penelope Wilton play the parents of Arietty, played by 17-year-old Rebecca Callard, whose extremely cute, tender, refined and adorable looks made her the perfect candidate to play an innocent coming-of-age youngster who was basically younger than 17 !
Lets give it 10/10 for being just about perfect; simple, wholesome, fun, and iconic of an era of much better culture and much better days !
