User reviews

This is a TV film based on the book Ballet Shoes. It is about three adopted girls just after the First World War who all have different ambitions for the future.

This may come as a shocking statement to some, but I think this deserved to be in the cinemas just as much as Spiderman 3, Enchanted and that sort of thing. I like those films as well of course, but this is really something.

I like this for the brilliant acting from Emma Watson etc, the similarity to the Noel Streatfield book, a lot of the humour and the end of the story, it is one of my favourite parts of the film. It may miss bits out from the book, but those bits are the unnecessary parts and the parts left in are well-chosen. I cannot properly explain how and why I like this (the previous part of the paragraph was not totally what I meant), but I just recommend it to anyone who likes the book and people who like Emma Watson.

At the very beginning of the film, a young girl with no surviving relatives other than her uncle, goes to live with him in his huge house of fossils. Her life becomes happier, but it soon turns out to be hard work again when on his travels around the world, the uncle sends her three baby girls. These girls grow up to have bright personalities and mixed interests and talents.

Enjoy "Ballet Shoes"! :-)

One of my favourite books ever, having trained as a dancer and having children training as dancers we were glued to the box this evening, even though it was boxing day. Not exactly following the story of the book I loved it, and what is more, my adolescent children, cynical and critical, also loved it. Emma Watson is great, as are her 'adopted sisters', not one personage is out of place, and it filmed with loads of love and an eye for beauty and respect to Noel Streatfeild. I still slightly remember the 1975 series and this was just as sweet and nice. The dancing scenes are well executed, the dilemma's the girls are facing as well as those of Narnie are depicted in a good way. As in the book it is very much done with a slight tongue in cheek, never exaggerated feeling of love and harmony. Can't wait for the release of the DVD.

I'm an American and I always enjoy the productions that the BBC plays. I was really excited about Ballet Shoes. I read the book when I was younger, my copy was destroyed in Katrina so I didn't have time to re-read it. So this review will be short and sweet and about the film itself. The film itself was well done, very seamless and didn't seem to leave any big gaps of unexplained information. The music really help set the mood. Tchaikovsky's Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies set the mood for all the dancing, which as a dancer was pretty impressive for the three leads, especially Lucy Boyton. And Gershwin Along with Theo's radio help send in the time period (loved Theo!). The costumes and the sets were great. The acting was also fantastic. I don't remember a lot of the book, but I loved Madame Fidolia and Eileen Atkins was superb. I also loved Emilia Fox who is completely lovable and does a great job of bringing Sylvia alive. Richard Griffiths was adorable (horrible word choice, but that's how I feel) in an eccentric paleontologist way. I especially loved Theo and the Dr.'s, they were brought to life and very fun to watch.

As for the young fossil girls I have to say Lucy Boyton was my favorite. She was spunky, funny and very Posy. She showed a maturity far beyond her years. Yasmin Page was very intense as Petrova and appeared very thoughtful and intelligent. She was fantastic. Emma Watson was a little inconsistent. She had moments where she did great, the audition scene was very good, and when she acted like a prima donna she really shone, otherwise it appeared she was just reading off of a piece of paper, her performance was a little wooden and didn't do it for me. All together the three girls had a great amount of chemistry along with Nana and Sylvia they felt like a family. Overall I thought an enjoyable, CLEAN, family film. Worth seeing.

Noel Streatfeild's book 'Ballet Shoes' was read by nearly every English girl who is now a woman over fifty. It was filmed in 1975 and here it is again. If you don't mind the fact that the plot will not stand a close examination (one character disappears for twelve years without explanation, before returning, but no one finds that odd), and if you are willing to watch a film for its fairtytale qualities and sparkle, then you will find this most enjoyable and well done. Most viewers will be female, either women delightfully reminiscing, or young girls still innocent enough to dream (if there are any left who are not already binge-drinking and having sex at the age of ten). Heidi Thomas's script doesn't even try to make sense of the implausible plot, but just gets on with the fun. The film has been very well directed by Sandra Goldbacher, now we hope rescued from the world of television advertising. The story concerns three orphan girls living in a big house whose owner is absent. They are played with tremendous youthful energy and verve by Emma Watson, Yasmin Paige, and Lucy Boynton. They are 'running out of money' and cannot afford dresses, despite the fact that they live in a huge mansion (see page 94), but let's not worry about that inconsistency. One wants to act, one wants to be a ballet dancer, and one wants to be an airplane pilot. Well, why not? They struggle and have vicissitudes, as one must do to succeed, and manage to earn enough money to keep the bailiffs from the door. They are looked after by Emilia Fox, who coughs and becomes increasingly frail and wan but never quite gets the TB that is hinted at, and she falls in love, and is broken-hearted and desolate, but ... well, I ain't sayin' what happens there. Comedienne Victoria Wood is a kind of super-nanny to all, showing her warm heart straight off the AGA, Richard Griffiths is as jolly as ever when he is around, and that is very jolly indeed. Everybody has a great time, and so do we.

The reason why I actually saw this movie is cause a girlfriend of mine is a die-hard Harry Potter fan, loves the movies and will look every movie the cast of HP has a part in. So watching this one with her, I had no expectations cause I didn't know what this film was about and to be honest, when it was over I still had no clue whatsoever what this was supposed to be. A drama, a comedy, a vehicle to boost some young talents careers? I had no clue. So after 90 minutes of twists and turns, unlikely coincidences and a kind of rushed happy end I was sitting there uttering the words "now this is bogus!". It's not that it was a bad movie per se, we have a very unlikely story, a very good but also very very stereotypically cast set of actors that act over the top, a weird storyline and lots of dancing. So I didn't have the feeling that it was a bad movie, but I still had no idea what this was supposed to be. The only thing I really took from it was that whoever is to direct the next film starring Emma Watson has to botox her forehead back to the stoneage cause her eyebrows have to stop moving when she is acting. I mean I ended up staring at them cause even though there is lots of dancing in the film her eyebrows are the things that move the most. On the other hand, it has been worse in the HP movies. However, it wasn't until I spoke with another friend of mine - another Harry Potter fan and mom of 4 kids - and complained about this film that I was told that this is an adaption of a child book classic. I suppose this was the godmother of all "duuuuh" moments someone can have, especially after I was lectured for a solid 15 minutes about how great the book is how her kids love it how much they can learn about the importance of hard work and taking care of each other and yadda yadda yadda plus just cause I'm a guy and not into the Harry Potter stuff I still have no right to badmouth the girl playing Hermione cause it's her fave character in the books. So, knowing that it's a kids book the stereotypical characters make sense and with that in mind the actors casted for the roles actually fit perfect. Richard Griffiths is befuddled and funny as always, Marc Warren can be the shy guy once more just to name a few. And so finally, the twist and turns and the happy end make sense too, so does the fact that I couldn't understand the story, cause it's made for little girls in the 1930s. I guess I really dodged a bullet there, for a few days I thought I was just stupid.

Sylvia Brown (Emilia Fox) was a young orphan when she came to live with her paleontologist uncle 'Gum' Great Uncle Matthew. On his many travels, he rescued three baby girls and give them their names. Pauline Fossil (Emma Watson) is rescued from a lifeboat. Petrova Fossil (Yasmin Paige) is a Russian baby. Posy Fossil (Lucy Boynton) is left by her mother with ballet shoes, necklaces, and some money. The girls vow to be in the history books. They take in boarders. The girls get to train in Madame Fidolia's dance school.

I don't know anything about the novel. The movie feels stuffed with a bit too much plot. The center of this should be the relationship between the three girls. I would have prefer concentrating solely on the girls especially with the terrific work from Watson and Paige. They're the heart of this anyways. All three are terrific.

It is obvious that this film was made for a younger audience, and as such it is a perfectly good film with a good story and interesting characters that were well acted. Although not being in the targeted age group I enjoyed the film very much too, and it reminded me of the sort of children's drama I enjoyed as a child, it has an innocence and charm which unfortunately could be lost on a modern audience. It was good to see Emma Watson in a film other than the Potter films and I feel it is certain that her career as an actress will give her great success for decades to come. I always find that Emilia Fox gives a credible performance and with the inclusion of Richard Griffiths ,Marc Warren, Lucy Coho and Victoria Wood I would recommend this film to all.

It is a rare treat to view a film like "Ballet Shoes." It's one of the those films where everyone has a piece of the cake of a happy ending but more importantly the film steers away from fluffy clichés and mushiness. The story takes place during the 1930s in a small house in London. Sylvia Brown (the luminous Emilia Fox), the niece of eccentric, traveling paleotolongist Great Uncle Matthew aka "Gum" who brings along from his travels three orphaned baby girls and it is Sylvia and her plucky Nana (Victoria Wood) that raise the three girls who grow up into fine young ladies with dreams and aspirations. The eldest is Pauline (Emma Watson aka "Hermoine Granger") dreams and aspires to be an actress, Petrova (Yasmin Paige) is the tomboyish one of the three and wants to become an aviator, and finally, Posy, the youngest and boldest one of the three has ambitions to become a ballet dancer. But this small family are facing harsh financial times and set their house for room and board. Enter the tenants that impact the girls' and Sylvia's lives: Mr. Simpson (the expressive Marc Warren), a man with a tragic past but a keen interest in cars and airplanes. He is someone Petrova can talk to; The retired scholarly professors Drs. Jakes and Smith (Gemma Jones and Harriet Walter) who take on the task of tutoring the girls; Theo Dane (Lucy Cohu), a professional dancer and actress, who makes the most profound influences on Pauline and Posy. The film tells how the girls struggle with Sylvia to save their home and at the same time pursue their dreams. To add to their struggles, Sylvia is ill and the girls do all they can to provide for her as well. The words I have to describe this little gem are charming and smart. With a wonderful cast delivering equally endearing performances. Emilia Watson is as always lovely and sweet as Sylvia a woman who selflessly gives and gives without ever once asking for repayment with Victoria Wood as Nana providing as a strong front for her and the household. The girls are wonderful: Emma Watson as Pauline is wonderful. She proved me wrong that she really can act and she definitely is more than the Harry Potter franchise. This is a performance that will hopefully carry her even further. Yasmin Paige as the big hearted and adventurous Petrova is a star in the making. Every scene she conveys such honesty and most of all she is real. Lucy Boynton as Posy is very lovely. She brings her character to life as the bold and daring young lady with such grace and maturity. Her scenes with Eileen Atkins, who plays Madame Fidolia a Russian dance instructor and head of a prestigious dance school, are wonderfully done and acted together. The film is sweet, smart, wonderfully acted and written without the added fluff and mumbo jumbo of made for TV films. The only tragedy was that this film wasn't released in the U.S.A theatrically or at least on HBO. This is a little gem I hope to own on DVD.

This reminded me of the Sunday afternoon dramas that the BBC used to show when I was young. There was nothing to dislike about this; it had charm, an improbable story, over-the-top characters and a real feel of the period it was set in - the thirties.

There were lots of familiar faces; it was good to see Peter Bowles back on TV and anything with Victoria Wood has to be good. Emma Watston sustained the reputation she built up in the Harry Potter films - she is definitely going to be a big-name actress in the future. My personal accolade of Best Actress, however, went to Yasmin Paige who played Petrova, the girl who wants to be the aviator. You heard it here first folks - she is going to be a famous actress - and I'm not even her mother!

At first, Harry Potter's star Emma Watson arguably stands out among the cast. She plays with different type of genre, which is fantasy as she used to play in Harry Potter or Beauty and The Beast. However, as the film progresses, all the cast begins to blend nicely one another, creating a complete narrative of Ballet Shoes as a whole. The visual of the film is enchanting enough, for although Ballet Shoes is set on the Great Depression, the scenes take place on lovely settings: a ballet studio, a theater, a small wood and clearing, a screening of film. The scene of this film also illustrates the situation in London during 20th century with vintage costumes, house, car and even the make-up itself. It may not be the most pleasing film for senses, but it is appealing enough with its British qualities presented through the characters' costumes, for example.

The problem with Ballet Shoes is that it feels uneventful. Rather than engaging its readers to watch the film due to, for example, an unresolved tension, it sweeps the readers in one path and lets them engages themselves with the film. The climax of the film, which we suppose fell on the scene where Pauline decides to go to Hollywood so that Posy can afford ballet training to Czechoslovakia is not as dramatic as a climax scene should have been; it is even less dramatic than that one scene where Petrova realizes Granie has inflammation with her lungs and Pauline breaks down because she cannot support Granie enough as she has been fired from her role in theater. It is as if Ballet Shoes leaves the choice to the readers, whether to engage themselves or not in the film, and does not invest or make enough effort to keep the audience in their seats. This is why the film feels dull in several parts.

And to be quite honest, if it were not for the characters' alluring British accent, Ballet Shoes could be even worse. Moreover, the title is also quite misleading. Attention is distributed quite evenly among the three main characters (Pauline, Petrova, and Posy), with occasional emphasis on Pauline's story, although the title is "Ballet Shoes" and Posy's story is supposedly the one at the center for she is the one with passion for ballet. However, Ballet Shoes indeed offers some interesting premises.

The core of the plot, in which three young girls become relatives by incident and in doing so help each other to reach their dreams despite their individual and collective struggles, is heart-warming. How the characters play their parts to build what Ballet Shoes film is all about. With the slogan in the layout "Dreams do Come True" they really are pursuing their dream, not only the main characters but Sylvia Brown itself who wants her children to get a better living. Petrova is not useful here as she found out that Sylvia got sick, and rely on this to Pauline, as the main source of money.

Despite of all the things happened in the story; I really like parts of how they help each other as sisterhood, I like how they strengthen each other when they are down. The characters themselves are intriguing: Emma Watson as Pauline, pretty and determined she is yet she can be very self-absorbed, she becomes arrogant as she wanted to take her drama, and how she acts that people there should appreciate her. The picture of Hermoine is not again in her character here. Petrova, who is deemed Miss Plain Jane compared to the other two girls, is selfless, empathetic, and visionary with her dreams. It seems like her parts here is not catching audience's eyes. She likes something with machine and close to the garage owner who is later marries Sylvia, since Petrova shares her mind and match her hobbies, it takes audience's guessing that at first the garage owner and Petrova would have feelings to each other. Petrova is also not useful here as she found out that Sylvia got sick, and rely on this to Pauline, as the main source of money. Meanwhile Posy, although exceptional with her talents, has a problem in managing her ambition and whims. She has main figure as ballerina with her mother's shoes for she wishes that it will lead her to her mother. Thus, she does whatever it takes to reach them. She is not sad because her teacher got stroke, but she is sad because she stops ballet.

Let us not forget Sylvia, too, who is as loving as she is selfless. Pauline, Petrova, and Posy grow up without their parents, but we argue that Sylvia has played the role of their parents better than the three girls could ever ask for. Another saving grace for Ballet Shoes is its music score; in a way, we feel that the merry tunes fit childhood in London very well.

Thus, in a nutshell, Ballet Shoes regrettably has not been handled very well, especially in regards to the story's deliverance. As the film comes to an end, it feels like "is that all?" because the film ends in which situation is not accomplished yet, they do not make the movie as end hanging, but one of the character here has its end hanging, for example someone who likes the garage car – a dance teacher, she ended up finding a man in her past, but we do not know how, why, and where this guy comes from, just all of sudden. As the audience, we would beg more about this film. However, the film is still a charming film and it probably suits for children above 10 to watch.

frankly, i thought this movie was awful...and terribly boring. i had a very difficult time getting through it. the actresses didn't do a very good job playing the characters in my opinion. they seemed so..so i boring and they simply didn't have any depth to them. watching the movie was thoroughly exhausting. The plot wasn't very good either. It's just not eventful enough. allow me to rephrase that. it wasn't interesting enough.that's it. Movies are supposed to entertain people and teach morals or whatever and this one didn't do a very good job at that. there is a high probability that you'll be falling asleep even if you're going to watch at noon for goodness sake.

I normally don't like drama, or ballet, but I decided to give this a go anyway.

Ballet Shoes takes place in 1930'ies England, and the plot revolves around three girls and how they try to realize their dreams, despite living in poverty. It's a drama film, although not overly dramatic.

The film opens in the home of archaeologist and adventurer Matthew – later called Gum, Great uncle Matthew – who travels the world and brings home little souvenirs; parentless children in need of new homes, which his niece Sylvia are given to take care of while he's away.

The main story begins when the three girls – Pauline, Petrova and Posey – have become a little older and are going to school. Their adoptive mother Sylvia can no longer afford paying for their educations and they have to leave school, and, to even afford living in their house, start renting out some of the rooms. Quite conveniently, two of the guests are retired teachers who offer to give the girls full education, free of charge.

The plot centers around the three sisters' talents and their attempts to make something out of them and fulfill their dreams. This is the problem with this film; there is such a lot to make a film from, such a lot of plot material and characters to develop, and yet the producers feel the urge to squeeze in four or five quite detailed life stories in an hour and a half. The result is that the film seems rushed, they can't focus on developing one character for more than a minute at a time. They try to make all the characters interesting and well-developed, but excel with none of them. And ironically, the one they give most time to develop, Pauline and her acting, isn't the one you'd think the story ought to be about; Posey is the ballet dancer. I think they should've made the film two hours long; give the character more time to develop and don't rush the story. When you see how much they squeeze into these 90 minutes, you notice it wouldn't have been very long-winded even at 120 minutes; they have a lot of story and characters to develop, yet don't take the time they need. As it is now, most of the personality changes seem unnatural. For example, Pauline becomes quite the diva after her successes on stage and think everyone else should help her with everything and allow her to "save her strength", but this comes so suddenly and goes away just as fast, so that it only seems like a last minute idea, despite Watson's acting.

And speaking of acting, it is the actors that really keep the film together. Ballet Shoes gives us a chunk of Britain's prime actors; from veterans like Richard Griffiths, Eileen Atkins and Gemma Jones, to newborn stars like Emma Watson, to those in between like Emilia Fox. Three of the actors, Griffiths, Watson and Jones, have all been in the Harry Potter movies, where they played Uncle Vernon, Hermione Granger and Madam Pomfrey respectively; here they take on the roles of Gum, Pauline Fossil and Dr Jakes. Emilia Fox, from Silent Witness, also takes on a leading role in the film as Sylvia, the girls' adoptive mother. The actors all do a great job, they make the characters believable despite the film only allowing them to develop a blink at a time.

The editing (in the parts that don't feel rushed), the camera work and the music, together with the actors, all give the film a unique atmosphere. However, one thing that is hard to ignore, at least for us who don't normally enjoy pure drama films, is the lack of conflict.

Sure the family is poor, and sure they find it hard to afford new clothes for the theatre, the rent and all the whatnot. And everything doesn't run perfectly smooth for the girls when they try to fulfill their dreams; but it never feels as if they might actually fail. The obstacles they face never seem too hard to beat, that beating them actually is a challenge. The film is so quick to skip between scenes and plot lines that the characters don't get time to actually face any obstacles, any such scene is cut out to be able to get film under 90 minutes.

Atop of all that, the film is full of wonderful coincidences that make sure all characters live happily ever after, again completely without conflict or resistance, without rivalry between any characters and so forth. At times it gets so sugar sweet and happy that I can't stand it, but the quick cutting is there to save me from too much happiness. If your parents told you you should stop watching such violent and scary films when you were little, and said you ought to see something happier and lighter, they probably meant Ballet Shoes. It's virtually void of conflict, at least the kind that has time to get you engaged in it, and absolutely everyone lives happily ever after. Not too dramatic for a drama film.

On the whole I think they should've made the film longer, giving the characters more time to develop, and they should've added some kind of proper conflict or believable obstacles, to make story more interesting. It's absolutely not a horrible movie, if you like drama you'll probably enjoy a lot more than I did. But for us who want a little bit of obstacles for the main characters to overcome, that they might actually fail at something, it's not a film I'd recommend. I've seen it twice now in three years, and it's going to take a lot to make me watch is again.

6/10

"Ballet Shoes," released in 2007 and directed by Sandra Goldbacher, is a heartwarming tale based on the novel of the same name by Noel Streatfeild. Set in 1930s London, the film follows the lives of three adopted sisters - Pauline, Petrova, and Posy Fossil - as they navigate the challenges and opportunities that come with pursuing their dreams of becoming performers.

The story begins with the three sisters living in poverty with their guardian, Sylvia Brown, who struggles to make ends meet. When Sylvia leaves to travel the world, she entrusts the care of the girls to her friend, Gum, who runs a boarding house. Despite their modest upbringing, the sisters share a deep love for the arts, each possessing unique talents and aspirations.

Pauline dreams of becoming an actress and eagerly embraces the opportunity to audition for the prestigious Children's Academy of Dramatic Arts. Petrova, on the other hand, is more interested in machines and dreams of becoming an aviator. Posy, the youngest sister, is a gifted dancer with a passion for ballet.

As the sisters pursue their respective passions, they encounter various challenges and setbacks along the way. From financial struggles to the pressures of the competitive performing arts world, each girl must find the strength and determination to overcome obstacles and follow her dreams.

One of the film's greatest strengths is its portrayal of the bond between the sisters. Despite their differences in personality and interests, Pauline, Petrova, and Posy share a deep love and loyalty to each other. Their unwavering support and encouragement serve as a source of inspiration throughout their journey.

The performances in "Ballet Shoes" are top-notch, with Emma Watson, Yasmin Paige, and Lucy Boynton delivering standout performances as Pauline, Petrova, and Posy, respectively. Their chemistry on screen is palpable, bringing depth and authenticity to their characters' relationships.

Beyond its charming characters and engaging storyline, "Ballet Shoes" also offers valuable lessons about perseverance, resilience, and the importance of following one's passion. Through the trials and triumphs of the Fossil sisters, viewers are reminded of the power of determination and the fulfillment that comes from pursuing one's dreams.

In conclusion, "Ballet Shoes" is a delightful and uplifting film that celebrates the bonds of sisterhood and the pursuit of artistic expression. With its compelling performances, heartfelt storytelling, and timeless themes, it is sure to captivate audiences of all ages. Whether you're a fan of dance, drama, or simply heartwarming tales of triumph, "Ballet Shoes" is a must-watch film that will leave you feeling inspired and uplifted.

I tuned in with anticipation to what had been billed as the all-star centrepiece to BBC England's Christmas schedule. Listings names such as Emilia Fox and Richard Griffiths as well as British stage stalwarts, the programme instantly glared of lazy and pretentious direction. The start was tenuous, almost ridiculous, and descended into the depths with wooden acting - the cameo from Victoria Wood must go down as one of the worst performances in living memory. I read about six months ago that Emma Watson had turned down handfuls of roles for the chance to perform in this tripe, and did herself no favours with a supposed sympathetic role of burdened orphan that came across as nothing more than an arrogant, sycophantic spoilt brat. Just when you thought the film was building up to a resurrecting finale, it just faded out - perhaps reflecting the team equally saw how horrific this was and just gave up. This wasn't bad, it was a disgrace.

Having loved the book growing up, I was bound to see this. I had bought the 1975 BBC version and found it to be absolutely terrible, as it completely mishandled the adaptation. What is surprising is that the 1975 version ran longer and could be argued as being more faithful to the book. Having said that, this version of Ballet Shoes captures the spirit of the story much better. I loved Emilia Fox's Sylvia and the entire cast did very well. I had been a little apprehensive of Emma Watson as Pauline since I'd never seen her as anything but Hermione from the Harry Potter series, but I was pretty happy with the performance after all.

I won't recap the story here, but basically; I love the book, and the movie brought out the reasons why I loved it, so that's good enough for me. I hope you all enjoy it too.

If you have read the book don't watch this. So many discrepancies with the real story purely for romantic effect completely unnecessary. Really spoils a real emotionally vibrant story. If you've not read the book ok for superficial meaningless anti feminist baloney. But you may enjoy ...