Dear Frankie

A quiet, tender watch that aches gently, built on small kindnesses and unspoken sadness rather than big dramatic gestures.

Directed by

Shona Auerbach

Genres

Drama, Family

Starring

Gerard Butler, Emily Mortimer, Jack McElhone

Overview

Nine-year-old Frankie and his single mum Lizzie have been on the move ever since Frankie can remember, most recently arriving in a seaside Scottish town. Wanting to protect her deaf son from the truth that they've run away from his father, Lizzie has invented a story that he is away at sea on the HMS Accra. Every few weeks, Lizzie writes Frankie a make-believe letter from his father, telling of his adventures in exotic lands. As Frankie tracks the ship's progress around the globe, he discovers that it is due to dock in his hometown. With the real HMS Accra arriving in only a fortnight, Lizzie must choose between telling Frankie the truth or finding the perfect stranger to play Frankie's father for just one day...

How it feels

Melancholic, warm, earnest and tense. Slow-burning and needs your attention.

About

Parenthood, family, love, deception

Content

Mild violence, sexual content and language. No gore.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Watch the trailer on YouTube (opens in a new tab)