All the Little Animals
Encyclopedia
All the Little Animals is a 1999 feature film
, directed and produced by Jeremy Thomas
, based on the novel of the same name by Walker Hamilton. It was adapted for the screen by Eski Thomas, and starred Christian Bale
and John Hurt
.
The film screened in the Un Certain Regard
section at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival
. It was released in the United States on 3 September 1999.
Eventually, the pair return to London to confront "The Fat".
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
, directed and produced by Jeremy Thomas
Jeremy Thomas
Jeremy Jack Thomas, CBE is a British film producer, founder of the Recorded Picture Company. He was the producer of Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor, which won the 1988 Academy Award for Best Picture. In 2006 he received a European Film Award for Outstanding European Achievement in World...
, based on the novel of the same name by Walker Hamilton. It was adapted for the screen by Eski Thomas, and starred Christian Bale
Christian Bale
Christian Charles Philip Bale is an English actor. Best known for his roles in American films, Bale has starred in both big budget Hollywood films and the smaller projects from independent producers and art houses....
and John Hurt
John Hurt
John Vincent Hurt, CBE is an English actor, known for his leading roles as John Merrick in The Elephant Man, Winston Smith in Nineteen Eighty-Four, Mr. Braddock in The Hit, Stephen Ward in Scandal, Quentin Crisp in The Naked Civil Servant and An Englishman in New York...
.
The film screened in the Un Certain Regard
Un Certain Regard
Un Certain Regard is a section of the Cannes Film Festival's Official Selection. It is run at the Salle Debussy, parallel to the competition for the Palme d'Or.This section was introduced in 1978 by Gilles Jacob...
section at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival
1998 Cannes Film Festival
The 51st Cannes Film Festival was held on May 13-24, 1998. The Palme d'Or went to the Greek film Mia aioniotita kai mia mera by Theo Angelopoulos.- Jury :*Martin Scorsese *Alain Corneau *Chiara Mastroianni...
. It was released in the United States on 3 September 1999.
Plot
The story centers on a emotionally challenged man named Bobby (Christian Bale). He runs away from home in order to escape his abusive stepfather (Daniel Benzali), nicknamed "The Fat", who had killed Bobby's pet mouse and, as Bobby puts it, screamed at his mother until she died as a result. He finds himself in woodlands near Cornwall in England, eventually meeting an old man after being involved in a car accident (John Hurt). Mr. Summers, as the man calls himself, spends his time traveling and giving burials to animals that have been killed by cars, a task he refers to as "The Work". Bobby, also having an affinity for animals, becomes friends with the old man and aids him in his task.Eventually, the pair return to London to confront "The Fat".
Genesis
Jeremy Thomas, by then an Academy Award-winning producer, later remembered his journey to becoming a director:Cast
- John HurtJohn HurtJohn Vincent Hurt, CBE is an English actor, known for his leading roles as John Merrick in The Elephant Man, Winston Smith in Nineteen Eighty-Four, Mr. Braddock in The Hit, Stephen Ward in Scandal, Quentin Crisp in The Naked Civil Servant and An Englishman in New York...
as Mr. Summers - Christian BaleChristian BaleChristian Charles Philip Bale is an English actor. Best known for his roles in American films, Bale has starred in both big budget Hollywood films and the smaller projects from independent producers and art houses....
as Bobby Platt - John Higgins as Dean
- Daniel BenzaliDaniel BenzaliDaniel Benzali is a Brazilian-American stage, television and film actor.-Biography:Benzali was born in Rio de Janeiro to Brazilian Jewish parents...
as Bernard 'The Fat' De Winter - James Faulkner as Mr. Stuart Whiteside
- John O'Toole as Lorry Driver
- Amanda Boyle as Des
- Amy RobbinsAmy RobbinsAmy Robbins is an English actress best known for her role as Dr. Jill Weatherill in the British television series The Royal. Prior to her current role she played Police Sergeant Rachel James in the BBC One hospital drama Casualty for one series...
as Valerie Ann Platt, Bobby's Mother - Kaye Griffiths as Lepidopterist
- Sevilla Delofski as Janet, De Winter's Secretary
- Helen Kluger as Ice Cream Vendor
- Shane Barks as Young Bobby
- Sjoerd Broeks as Mark
- Elizabeth Earl as Child in Van
- Andrew Dixon as Philip