Contains some spoilers

I don't have prejudices, but I've always found something enchanting in British dramas that will never be shown in an American movie. Correct me if I'm mistaken.
Trainspotting, Angela's Ashes, Little Voice and now Dear Frankie are movies about life, people, relationships and feelings, real human feelings which are represented through great scenarios, superb acting and atmosphere which drags you into their stories from the very beginning.

Dear Frankie is a Scottish social drama about a deaf boy, his mother and grandmother who are running away from Frankie's father, the man who "loved" him so much that he caused his illness. But the main thing the plot revolves around are the letters Frankie is sending to his father every month. Frankie is convinced that his father is a sailor who travels around the world with his ship. He has no idea that his mother is the one who collects his letters and writes back. Due to several circumstances, Frankie finds out that his father's ship is coming to Glasgow in few days. And here comes Gerard Butler in game. He is a stranger Frankie's mother hires to act as Frankie's dad. The second part of the movie shows Frankie's and stranger's relationship and the pain his family feels when watching him being so happy, but being aware that they have been lying to him his whole life and that this happiness won't last forever.

Dear Frankie is a story which shows the love a mother has for her child and all the sacrifice she would do to protect it. She puts her own happiness aside and struggles with the guilt she has to keep inside. Nevertheless I wouldn't call this one a sad story, because it shows that there is still hope in life and that nice things will eventually come. There is a trace of optimism in the end, which when in combination with the movie's story will certainly bring tears to your eyes. Everything is so lively, so real and so well described, main characters are people with both flaws and virtues, performances are well done, let me just mention Emily Mortimer who without any difficulties steals the show from her more acclaimed and let's say more famous colleagues in many movies (such as Match Point).

In the end I would just advise you to watch this movie with subtitles, because without them the hard Scottish accent might cause some problems at the beginning, before you get used to it. And yes, keep a box of tissues beside you, because there might be some situations and part of this movie when you might need them.

LovelyT