The Borrowers

'The Borrowers' (1997, Peter Hewitt) is by far one of my favourite films, I say this about most films I write about! but this film generally is a favourite! It reminds me of staying at my Grandma's house, watching it with my sister and cousin on video over and over again!


'The Borrowers' , based on the book by Mary Norton, follows the story of a whole world of miniature people that live beneath the floorboards of our world borrowing all they need to survive without us even knowing.

'A borrower is quiet, conscientious, and inconspicuous. We don't steal; we borrow'.

The story begins when the Lender family are forced to leave their home after the death of a relative, who's will cannot be found and therefore there is no proof that the house belongs to them. Their house is purchased by Mr Ocious P. Potter who plans to destroy the house and build his own empire on the land. However, it is not just the Lender's that inhabit the house, beneath the floorboards lives the Clock family - Pod (Jim Broadbent), Homily (Celia Imrie), Arrietty (Flora Newbigin) and PeaGreen (Tom Felton !). Usually unseen, adventurous Arrietty finds herself captured by Pete Lender (Bradley Pierce), initially a huge problem, it turns out to be a good thing as the clocks are able to find hope in Pete to help them to move out of the house with the family.

However, as with any film, things do not go to plan and the Clocks and Pete find themselves at war with Ocious who eventually finds himself up against the entire population of Borrowers in the town.

The reason I thought of this film was actually through Facebook! I found an article about the actors then and now! The biggest change I think has been in Tom Felton! From playing the young irritating PeaGreen to becoming Harry Potter favourite Draco Malfoy!

The style of the film reminds me of others such as 'Stuart Little' (1999, Rob Minoff), released during a similar sort of time, I think I love these films best as they were around as I was growing up. Don't get me wrong, I love a lot of new films but without a doubt the older ones are my favourite.