My Family and Other Animals (film)
Encyclopedia
My Family And Other Animals is a 2005 film written by Simon Nye
and directed by Sheree Folkson. The film is based on the autobiographical book of the same title written by Gerald Durrell
, in which he describes a series of anecdotes relating to his family's stay on Corfu
from 1935–1939, when he was aged 10–15.
, Leslie Durrell, Margaret Durrell
and Gerald Durrell
, as well as their mother Louisa Durrell, as they spend five years (1935–1939) on the Greek island of Corfu
. The family reside in a series of villas, and spend their time indulging in their varying interests. Gerald develops his passion for wildlife, his mother spends her time cooking; Larry writes; Leslie develops his passion for ballistics and sailing, whilst Margo sunbathes and enchants the local young men.
In Durrell's book, no reference is made to the events leading to World War II
, whilst in the film, the characters discuss these events in some detail, mentioning the rise of Hitler and the Italian Fascists.
In the book, Durrell describes his elder brother, author Lawrence Durrell, as unmarried and residing with the family, whereas he actually lived separately with his wife, Nancy, who is omitted from the book completely. In the film Lawrence is portrayed as unmarried and residing with his family, but a passing reference to an otherwise unidentified woman named "Nancy" - in a scene in which Gerald sees his brother kissing a house-guest and remarks "Larry is mating with Nancy".
Simon Nye
Simon Nye is an English comic television writer, best known for creating the hit sitcom Men Behaving Badly, writing all of the four ITV Panto, co-writing the 2006 film Flushed Away, co-writing Reggie Perrin and creating the latest adaption of William Brown in the Just William CBBC...
and directed by Sheree Folkson. The film is based on the autobiographical book of the same title written by Gerald Durrell
Gerald Durrell
Gerald "Gerry" Malcolm Durrell, OBE was a naturalist, zookeeper, conservationist, author and television presenter...
, in which he describes a series of anecdotes relating to his family's stay on Corfu
Corfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
from 1935–1939, when he was aged 10–15.
Synopsis
My Family And Other Animals tells the story of the Durrell family, Lawrence DurrellLawrence Durrell
Lawrence George Durrell was an expatriate British novelist, poet, dramatist, and travel writer, though he resisted affiliation with Britain and preferred to be considered cosmopolitan...
, Leslie Durrell, Margaret Durrell
Margaret Durrell
Margaret Isabel Mabel Durrell was the younger sister of novelist Lawrence Durrell, and elder sister of naturalist, author and TV presenter Gerald Durrell, whose Corfu Trilogy of novels — My Family and Other Animals, Birds, Beasts and Relatives and Garden of the Gods — lampoons her...
and Gerald Durrell
Gerald Durrell
Gerald "Gerry" Malcolm Durrell, OBE was a naturalist, zookeeper, conservationist, author and television presenter...
, as well as their mother Louisa Durrell, as they spend five years (1935–1939) on the Greek island of Corfu
Corfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
. The family reside in a series of villas, and spend their time indulging in their varying interests. Gerald develops his passion for wildlife, his mother spends her time cooking; Larry writes; Leslie develops his passion for ballistics and sailing, whilst Margo sunbathes and enchants the local young men.
Differences from the book
The film differs from Gerald Durrell's bestselling autobiographical book in several major ways.In Durrell's book, no reference is made to the events leading to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, whilst in the film, the characters discuss these events in some detail, mentioning the rise of Hitler and the Italian Fascists.
In the book, Durrell describes his elder brother, author Lawrence Durrell, as unmarried and residing with the family, whereas he actually lived separately with his wife, Nancy, who is omitted from the book completely. In the film Lawrence is portrayed as unmarried and residing with his family, but a passing reference to an otherwise unidentified woman named "Nancy" - in a scene in which Gerald sees his brother kissing a house-guest and remarks "Larry is mating with Nancy".
Principal cast
- Eugene SimonEugene Simon (actor)Eugene Michael Simon is an English actor and fashion model best known for his role as Jerome Clarke in the television series House of Anubis. As a model, he is represented by agency Models 1.-Filmography:-External links:...
as Gerald Durrell - Imelda StauntonImelda StauntonImelda Mary Philomena Bernadette Staunton, OBE is an English actress. She is perhaps best known for her performances in the British comedy television series Up the Garden Path, the Harry Potter film series and Vera Drake...
as Mother - Chris LanghamChris LanghamChristopher "Chris" Langham is an English writer, actor and comedian. He is most famous for playing MP Hugh Abbot in BBC Four sitcom The Thick of It and as presenter Roy Mallard in People Like Us, first on BBC Radio 4 and later on its transfer to television on BBC Two, where Mallard is almost...
as Theodore Stephanides - Omid DjaliliOmid DjaliliOmid Djalili is a British Iranian stand-up comedian, actor, television producer and writer.-Personal life:Djalili was born in Chelsea, London to Iranian Bahá'í parents and is a Bahá'í himself...
as Spiro - Matthew GoodeMatthew GoodeMatthew William Goode is an English actor. His notable films have included Match Point, Watchmen, Brideshead Revisited, Leap Year, Imagine Me and You and A Single Man.-Early life:...
as Larry Durrell - Russell ToveyRussell ToveyRussell George Tovey is an English actor with numerous television, film and stage credits. Tovey is best known for playing the role of werewolf George Sands in the BBC's supernatural drama Being Human which started in 2008...
as Leslie Durrell - Tamzin MerchantTamzin MerchantTamzin Merchant is an English actress. She is known for her role as Georgiana Darcy in Pride & Prejudice and for her role as the ill-fated Queen Catherine Howard in The Tudors.-Career:...
as Margo Durrell - Alexander ArmstrongAlexander Armstrong (comedian)Alexander Henry Fenwick Armstrong is a British comedian, actor and television presenter.-Early life and career:Armstrong was born in Rothbury, Northumberland, the youngest of three children, to Henry Angus Armstrong and his wife Emma Virginia Peronnet Thompson-McCausland, daughter of Lucius...
as Narrator/Adult Gerry (Voice Over)