may cause longings for Corfu

Hugo and I did Gerald Durrell's My Family And Other Animals as a read aloud a while back; then Amelia read it herself; now Roo is reading it. It is the (mostly true) story of a rather eccentric English family which moves to Corfu, told from the point of view of the youngest member of the family:  a boy named Gerald, who is fascinated with fauna and spends his days roaming around the country side acquiring specimens for his ever growing collection of live and dead animals.

It is also hilarious.

And this Masterpiece Theater adaptation is wonderful at accurately depicting the book.

Of course, as always when compressing a book into a film, some things are missing, and someone's 'best scene' is cut. But this movie really captures the feeling of the story, and through careful selection of dramatic events, truly conveys the world Durrell shared with us in the book.

Imelda Staunton as Gerald's mother is brilliant. In fact Mrs. Durrell is brilliant.

Spiro spices things up by sprinkling his conversation with the liberal use of the word bastards.

Lesley is always shooting things.

Margo lurches from one heart break to another.

And Gerry searches for specimens, builds his collections, and is given remarkably free rein to pursue his interests - kind of like unschooling at its best. And though he does have a series of tutors foisted on him eventually, the fact remains that Gerry was fascinated with fauna from a very young age, his interests were not only permitted but gently encouraged, and he became a renowned naturalist in adulthood.

At our home, this book and movie has become a source of numerous quotes and references, though I think our favourite is:

You are SO opinionated!!!!  (exclaimed very loudly, with much opinionated vehemence, of course).

Highly recommended for a family read aloud & then a family movie night.


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