Framed

This BBC production, shown in the US on Masterpiece Contemporary, stars Trevor Eve (Waking the Dead, among many other fine productions) as Quentin Lester, a senior curator from the National Gallery in London, is given the task of storing the art masterpieces somewhere during repairs on the leaky plumbing at the Gallery which threatened to damage them.

The artworks are taken to a mining cave in Wales where they had been previously stored during WWII for safe keeping until they could be returned one by one to the Gallery. There Lester meets a community of colorful characters along with a young boy whom he believes shares his interest in art. Their teacher, played so charmingly by Eva Myles, introduces herself into his life and eventually Lester becomes an integral part of the community during his stay there.

The movie is full of mishaps and adventures, many of which involve a family who are experiencing some financial difficulties. The children in the family rally around their mother trying to find a way to help the family out during their father's absence resulting in some of the most memorable scenes.

The scenery alone is an artwork unto itself with beautiful vistas frame the village and it's town folk. It is heartwarming how everyone comes alive with the arrival of the art and a lonely, solitary man finds his true self along with them.

The acting here is superb with standout performances by Eve, Myles and especially the young children. Don't miss the elderly sisters played by Margaret John and Gwyneth Petty; they are adorable.

This little movie is fantastical and lovable, reminiscent of movies like "Waking Ned Devine" or "The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain". Enjoy this gem for the treat it is.

Trevor Eve plays an uptight National Gallery curator. A leak in the Gallery has led to flooding and the valuable paintings have been sent to a disused slate mine in North Wales. It was something envisaged by Churchill during the war.

The arrival of the art world in the sleepy village of Manod gets the villagers to develop an interest in the art, Trevor Eve develops an interest with the local schoolteacher (Eve Myles) and a struggling petrol station finds new opportunities to stay afloat.

The drama is an adaptation of the book from Frank Cottrell Boyce, however a charming story does not translate well on screen. The villagers have too much of the yokel in them and Trevor Eve looks frankly too old to be melting for the charms of the much younger looking Myles.

I found this movie to be absolutely delightful and a perfect weld between privileged society and the average everyday person. I loved the children in the movie - their ingenuity and wit. The adults characters were also well done. Mr. Davis' character was touching, especially his reaction to the painting of the boats. As you got to know each character in the movie you became more endeared to the town and to human nature. The movie made me laugh as well. I loved the part about Mr. Davis and his thoughts on liver. These days it's very hard to find entertainment that is enjoyable and easy to watch. It was an excellent movie in that it showed how art inspires and changes people, and makes life better. There was a lot of heart and depth in that little Welsh town, and it rubbed off on the art expert who came to stay for a while. I would watch this type of movie any day, over the titillating, violent rubbish that's out there. Kudos to those who still know how to make an awesome viewing experience!

National Gallery in London is flooded. Elitist curator Quentin Lester organizes the transfer of the collection to an abandoned mine in north Wales. Local teacher Angharad Stannard soon uncovers the secret operation. Quentin confuses little boy Dylan Hughes' love of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for a love of the Italian masters. The locals start seeing the art which leads to changes. The weird butcher renovates the local pond. Dylan's mother is struggling after her husband disappeared and decides to open a cafe in their gas station's garage. Daughter Minnie Hughes is casing the cave. The Sellwood sisters have come out of their seclusion with their own painting. Questin is not a hunky lead or a terribly romantic lead. The town is full of quirky characters. They're all likable. This is a light quirky movie. The little boy is compelling. It's fun. It's heart-warming.

If not for the inclusion of some delightful Welsh accented actors (apart from sone of the annoyingly cocky child actors), and the lovely scenery, this really contrived movie is almost like an old Pink Panther show. The wasted talent here is a shame, as is the mundane dialogue. The most annoying but for me was the constant overwhelming use of very inappropriate background music, which at times was almost cartoon-like. A very amateurish production that does not favours to Wales, art or the people who are being portrayed here. The characters are fairly one-dimensional and Trevor Eve is just not a good fit here at all. A disappointing film and only watch if you have time to waste or are sick in bed.