My Family and Other Animals (film)

For the 1956 book, see My Family and Other Animals.

My Family And Other Animals
Directed by	Sheree Folkson
Written by	Gerald Durrell (book) Simon Nye (writer)
Starring	Eugene Simon Imelda Staunton Chris Langham Omid Djalili Matthew Goode Russell Tovey Tamzin Merchant
Release date(s)	United Kingdom: December 27, 2005
Running time	90 min.
Country	United Kingdom

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.

Synopsis

My Family And Other Animals tells the story of the Durrell family, Lawrence Durrell, 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.

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, 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". ^[1]

Principal cast

• Eugene Simon as Gerald Durrell
• Imelda Staunton as Mother
• Chris Langham as Theodore Stephanides
• Omid Djalili as Spiro
• Matthew Goode as Larry Durrell
• Russell Tovey as Leslie Durrell
• Tamzin Merchant as Margo Durrell
• Alexander Armstrong as Narrator/Adult Gerry (Voice Over)

External links

• My Family And Other Animals at the Internet Movie Database

References

1. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482552/fullcredits#cast