Swallows and Amazons (2016)

97min

Genre:      Family, Adventure, Mystery

Director:   Philippa Lowthorpe

Cast:        Dane Hughes, Kelly Macdonald, Rafe Spall…and more

Writers:    Andrea Gibb and Arthur Ransome

-Synopsis-

In wartime Britain, four young siblings turn a rural English vacation into a “pirate” adventure on the local lake island; but their fantasy meets a dose of reality when they’re caught up in a dangerous game between a mysterious houseboat loner and a couple of sinister strangers, in this period British adventure adaptation of the 1st book in Arthur Ransome’s bestselling series.

For her feature film debut director, Philippa Lowthorpe crafts her own adaptation of the 1st book in the beloved Arthur Ransome children’s adventure novel series, having already been made-for-film once in 1974; but with the help of screenwriter Andrea Gibb, Lowthorpe adds a distinct espionage and historical element to this heart-warming venture.

It’s possible that the family dynamic in ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’  was inspired by Ransome’s 1930 novel; but it’s highly likely that Lowthorpe and Gibb were in turn influenced by the C. S. Lewis classic in terms of the World War II narrative and their interpretation of the family dynamic, which gave them the opportunity to introduce a little suspense to an otherwise wholesome story… with limited success it must be said.

The story centres around the “Walker” family; teenagers “John” and “Susan”, youngsters “Tatty” and “Roger” and their mom, while father is stationed far away in the South Pacific. Together they escape the city to the picturesque English countryside where they create their own Robinson Crusoe-style journey of discovery on a lake’s deserted island; but their claim to the land is challenged by a local family with whom they engage in a fantasy “pirate war” in this nautical themed adventure.

Beautifully shot in Yorkshire and in the Lake District, where the story is set; ‘Swallows and Amazons’ is no doubt a pretty film and cinematographer Julian Court manages to capture the picturesque beauty of the unspoilt English countryside, while the production designers re-create a quintessentially quaint British period aesthetic.

When you add the sensibilities of the narrative, the film feels like a 70’s British TV series, and whether that’s a good thing depends on your point of view. We certainly welcome a well-crafted family film that veers away from the big-budget fantasy adventures or huge Hollywood animations we’re all used to, but only when it has appeal beyond just the youngest members of the audience.

‘Swallows and Amazons’ is a sweet film, very sweet, in fact if you’re over 13 you might be at risk of diabetes. Sure the kids are cute and the story heart-warming, to a point; but despite the efforts to introduce a hint of  espionage and some clichéd topical villains, the narrative is thin and rather dull, and the film has no edge… not even a blunt one.

The Bottom Line…

Cute and quaint but directionless and sluggish, Philippa Lowthorpe’s adaptation belongs in the era in which it’s set and in which the novel was written. ‘Swallows and Amazons’ is certainly an alternative to Hollywood family fare which harks back to a simpler time, but it’s not a great one, and ultimately too one-dimensional to appeal to the entire discerning family.

Similar films you may like (Home Video)

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

To escape the Nazi bombing of London, four brothers and sisters embark on a British countryside stay where they encounter a magical wardrobe which transports them to a distant mystical land; but their adventure in the unknown becomes a quest to free the inhabitants from the grasp of an evil ice queen, with the help of a great lion of course in this CGI-laden 21st century adaptation of the C.S. Lewis classic.

Directed by  Andrew Adamson and Tilda Swinton, William Moseley and James McAvoy among others.

Comments

comments

Comments are closed.