Opening

87% Star Trek Into Darkness May 16
24% Erased May 17
91% Frances Ha May 17
44% The English Teacher May 17
42% Black Rock May 17
77% Pieta May 17
—— Populaire May 17
21% 33 Postcards May 17

Top Box Office

78% Iron Man 3 $72.5M
50% The Great Gatsby $50.1M
47% Pain & Gain $5.0M
37% Peeples $4.6M
77% 42 $4.6M
56% Oblivion $4.1M
69% The Croods $3.6M
98% Mud $2.5M
8% The Big Wedding $2.5M
60% Oz the Great and Powerful $1.1M

Coming Soon

—— The Hangover Part III May 23
77% Fast & Furious 6 May 24
—— Epic May 24
94% Before Midnight May 24
Dear Frankie

Dear Frankie (2004)

tomatometer

81

Average Rating: 6.8/10
Reviews Counted: 109
Fresh: 88 | Rotten: 21

Dear Frankie is a small, good-hearted film with fine performances.

82

Average Rating: 6.9/10
Critic Reviews: 34
Fresh: 28 | Rotten: 6

Dear Frankie is a small, good-hearted film with fine performances.

audience

89

liked it
Average Rating: 4/5
User Ratings: 30,203

My Rating

Movie Info

Directed by Shona Auerbach, Dear Frankie revolves around nine-year-old Frankie (Jack McElhone) and his mother, Lizzie (Emily Mortimer). The mother and son duo have been on the run for as long as Frankie, who has been deaf for years, can remember. In an effort to protect Frankie from the truth -- that a psychotic father, whose physical abuse caused his hearing loss, is at the root of their constant need to move from one home to the next -- Lizzie pens a series of letters from Frankie's "father"

PG-13,

Drama

Andrea Gibb

Jul 5, 2005

$1.3M

Miramax Films - Official Site External Icon

Watch It Now

Cast

ADVERTISEMENT

All Critics (120) | Top Critics (36) | Fresh (94) | Rotten (21) | DVD (17)

A bittersweet bonbon of a drama, full of the old fashioned literary touches that a well-written letter still can deliver in the age of e-mail.

April 15, 2005 Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel
Orlando Sentinel
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A small movie with a big soul and no easy formula for the happiness of its big-hearted characters.

April 15, 2005 Full Review Source: Miami Herald
Miami Herald
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The pain that's evoked in this small, warm film -- the deep and unspoken yearning of child -- is as universal as it is heartbreaking.

April 15, 2005 Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The film works as a highlight tape for the cast and will satisfy any desire you have to be driven to the brink of tears.

April 14, 2005 Full Review Source: Arizona Republic
Arizona Republic
Top Critic IconTop Critic

There is no unnecessary dialogue, and Auerbach encourages us to listen closely and to study the situation. We are required to learn truths slowly, at the same pace as the characters.

March 25, 2005 Full Review Source: Toronto Star
Toronto Star
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Gives us a spoonful of medicine to make the sugar go down. Depending on your tolerance, it just may go down a treat.

March 25, 2005 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail
Globe and Mail
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Moody but uplifting tale of deaf boy. Get your tissues!

January 26, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media

A quietly told film that--by casually tossing in a surprise here and a plot twist there--builds up to an ending that carries an intense emotional impact.

March 1, 2007 Full Review Source: Film Journal International
Film Journal International

Thanks to some wonderfully open-ended writing and acting, and Auerbach's fine attention to detail, Dear Frankie is one of those rare films that rewards repeat viewing.

September 22, 2006
Christianity Today

This is a little gem of a film.

March 4, 2006 Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope
Laramie Movie Scope

A touching little gem.

December 28, 2005 Full Review Source: Fantastica Daily
Fantastica Daily

The heart of the film is the very touching mother-son story.

December 10, 2005 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com
TheMovieReport.com

Proves to be heartwarming despite its contrivances and phony attempts at being arty.

December 8, 2005 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

A reminder that even in an age of wondrous technology and razzle-dazzle, innately simple and human stories will still... have the power to most move audiences.

September 28, 2005 Full Review Source: Now Playing Magazine

Tugged at my heartstrings, but not so strongly that I started to gag

August 5, 2005 Full Review Source: Movie Habit
Movie Habit

Audience Reviews for Dear Frankie

This is a highly underrated little gem from first time feature director Shona Auerbach. It's a film that shows a real delicacy and understanding for human relationships and a sensitive perception of life in general.
Frankie (Jack McElhone) is a 9 year old deaf boy has never met his father. His mother Lizzie (Emily Mortimer) left him years ago but never had the heart to tell her son. Instead, she concocts a story and tells Frankie that his father is working on a ship, sailing around the world. She also sends letters to Frankie, pretending to be his dad in far off places. Her story threatens to come to pieces though when Frankie discovers that his dadâ??s ship is due to dock at their hometown of Greenock. Instead of telling Frankie the truth, Lizzie employs the services of a stranger (Gerard Butler) to pretend that he's Frankie's father.
Every now and again you come across a low-key drama with real depth and honesty that when it's all over you are left feeling genuinely touched; a tear may even well-up or for that matter fall. This is that type of drama. It's a film that tugs on the heartstrings but doesn't use any form of manipulation to do so. It's just good, honest, storytelling that uses observation and an understanding of life and the heartbreaking complexities therein. It touches on the extent that parents will go to protect their children and also the difficulties faced by broken, impoverished families. What it also does, is put your faith in the kindness of strangers. That being said, this is not a film that's depressing. In fact, it's quite the opposite. It's a life-affirming story filled with humour as well as pathos and everyone hits just the right note. It's also a film that could claim to showcase the real charm and charisma of Gerard Butler before he hopped aboard the fame train. He's an enigmatic presence and delivers a wonderfully subtle, turn that gained him a lot more recognition amongst critics and filmgoers alike. The same could be said of Emily Mortimer; she is absolutely superb as a supportive but desperate mother striving to protect her son and further excellent support is delivered by young Jack McElhone as the eponymous and gentle natured Frankie. He doesn't physically talk throughout the film but we get to hear his thoughts through the letters he writes to his absent and elusive father. It's through these heartfelt, emotional performances that the film really resonates. That's not to take away from writer Andrea Gibb's endearing screenplay or director/cinematographer Shona Auerbach's sensitive handling of the material though; everyone pulls their weight in capturing just the right tone here. It's a such a shame that Auerbach hasn't made a film since as on this evidence, she certainly has the ability and a 15 minute standing ovation at Cannes would further fuel that.
A sweet and poignant little drama with fantastic performances all round. A film with a head and a heart and good feel for the moment.
October 27, 2012
MrMarakai

Super Reviewer

My heart ached throughout the entire movie. Wonderfully done...
October 4, 2010
itsjustme2004

Super Reviewer

    1. The Stranger: Every day you were protecting him!
    – Submitted by Dorothy M (18 months ago)

Discussion Forum

There are no discussion threads for Dear Frankie yet.

Latest News on Dear Frankie

June 3, 2005:
Woody Allen Makes a "Match" With DreamWorks
Woody Allen's well-received entry into the Cannes Film Festival, "Match Point," has been...

Help | About | Jobs | Critics Submission | API | Licensing | Mobile