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Lassie (2005)
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Canny canine Lassie is brushed up for a new generation in this solidly entertaining period adventure from FairyTale: a True Story director Charles Sturridge. Based on the same novel as 1943 classic Lassie Come Home, it explores the unbreakable bond between the collie and a poor miner's son in 1930s Yorkshire. Lip-quivering Jonathan Mason conveys just the right amount of pathos as the lad left brokenhearted when his destitute parents sell the pet to Peter O'Toole's local aristocrat. However, not even the Duke taking the dog away to Scotland can sever Joe and Lassie's ties, prompting an adventure-packed escape as she struggles to return home. Thanks to handsome cinematography and well-fleshed characters played by an impressive cast including O'Toole, Samantha Morton and John Lynch, this delightful film quickly transcends the predictable storyline. It is poignant, yet never mawkish, benefiting from subtle humour and a gritty undercurrent of social tension. Lassie's cuteness alone will enthral children, but the picture's greatest strength lies in its willingness to explore deeper and more mature themes. SF
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Tell us what you think
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Running time
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95min
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Country of origin
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Ire / UK / Fr / US
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Genre
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Period Adventure
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Original language
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English
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Screenplay
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Charles Sturridge, from the novel Lassie Come Home by Eric Knight
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Theatrical distributor
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Entertainment
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UK cinema certificate
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PG
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UK cinema release date
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December 2005
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Film certification logos reproduced by kind permission of BBFC |
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