The concept
of celebrities is a funny one, is it not? There is a strange aura about the
phenomenon of meeting an artist you admire in real life. On one hand, you feel
as if you know them already. It is, in one sense, true. Especially in the case
of artists who concretely create certain works (as opposed to actors who are
different sorts of artists), you are familiar with an important part of the
artist’s soul – the work of art. A work of art does, indeed, spring out of a
very personal place in the heart and mind of its creator, and it is the beauty
found in the expression of it, combined with the universal nature of human
emotion that makes us appreciate the works and find something of ourselves in
them. But then again, of course, one mustn’t forget that the artists themselves
are very human. And, as we all know, some humans can be quite unpleasant, even
if they are artists. That’s why it makes me happy when people whose work I
admire also turn out to be people I like and admire. And this cannot be truer
than in the case of Beatrix Potter. I mean, come on. In the English speaking
world who didn’t grow up reading her stories? Would you not like to listen to
HER story as well? I promise you, it makes excellent watching…
It is the
year 1902, and Beatrix Potter is the rather eccentric spinster daughter of a
good family living in London. Her mother, determined to use every opportunity
(including her children) to consolidate their place in the middle classes is
distraught because at the age of 32 Beatrix (Renee Zellwegger) is determinedly
unmarried and decidedly “strange”. She paints pictures of animals the whole
time and invents stories about them. She insists that she will become a
published author. It will not “do” at all. And yet, Beatrix wonders around town
from publishing house to publishing house determined to get herself noticed.
She finally is “noticed” by the Warne brothers. It’s not that they recognize
her as a talent, oh no. It’s just that their youngest brother Norman (Ewan
McGregor) is determined to be part of the family business and they reckon this
eccentric young woman is just the thing… Their rather condescending decision
will prove life changing for Miss Potter. In more ways than one…
I have a
rather nasty suspicion that Renee Zellwegger is well on the way of getting well
and truly typecast. Time and again she turns up on our screens – in wonderful
productions, portraying great performances I might add – as the unmarried woman
finding love in the end. There is nothing wrong with that per se – although
there is a lot to be said about portraying heroines happiness being portrayed
as not entirely dependent on a partner – but still. When you see her on one
side and Ewan McGreggor on the other, I mean come on. You don’t need a degree
in Film Studies to know they’re going to get together. Luckily, the film follows
real life and real life is rarely, if ever, as predictable as the movies. Well,
some movies.
I defy you
not to adore Miss Potter as she is portrayed by Renee Zellwegger. Heck, throw
in Norman (Ewan McGreggor) too. I know, there will be a lot of people who
accuse this film of being a little too “cutesy” for their liking. But then
again, people, it’s about Beatrix Potter. It would hardly be in the spirit of
the woman or her work if the film was any other way. And, put your hand on your
heart. What is wrong with a little cutesiness now and then? We live in a world
where a lot of dark and scary things happen on a daily basis. A temporary
escape to a more innocent world, if only just now and then, may be just what
the doctor ordered. In the case of Miss Potter, the film also serves as a
gentle reminder that the beat of your own drum is often the best beat to march
to in life, even if it doesn’t quite match up to those around you.
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