Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day – A Review

I heard about the book first, on the many blogs I follow. Intrigued, but not quite convinced, I tried to hunt down a copy at the local library and I failed. So, I settled for the next best thing – watching the movie adaptation.

So, What’s it about?

“Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day” is about Guinevere Pettigrew, a middle-aged and unremarkable governess who can’t seem to hold down a job. The movie begins with her getting unceremoniously kicked out of her current position and left homeless and starving. Despite her previous negative reports, she goes to her employment agency to beg for another job, only to be turned away. But when she overhears a request for a governess at the home of the singer-actress, Delysia Lafosse, she jumps at the chance. This decision sets off a chain of events that turns Miss Pettigrew’s life around in the next 24 hours.

Delysia Lafosse is a young and glamorous actress willing to take desparate measures to succeed on Broadway including juggling multiple men and attending lavish parties. Miss Pettigrew is initially taken aback by Delysia’s lifestyle, but she needs the job and is not the one to moralize.Similar to Mary Poppins, Miss Pettigrew helps fix Delysia’s relationships and problems and becomes a crucial part of her life within a few short hours.

Verdict

I don’t want to give too much away, but I will say the movie is an excellent blend of different elements. It’s a tale of a struggling actress, a story about a homeless woman trying to survive, a depiction of London’s 1930s fashion society, and, subtly, a portrayal of England preparing for war. Plus, it’s a love story, but what’s great is that none of these elements take themselves too seriously.

Amy Adams is simply delightful as the flirty and glamorous Delysia Lafosse, and I can’t imagine anyone more suited to the role. Frances McDormand is equally impressive as Miss Pettigrew, making her character entirely believable. They are supported by a competent cast and lovely cinematography. The clothes, the sets, the cars all add to the lovely art direction and take us to the pre-war era.

Overall, I highly recommend “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.” I thoroughly enjoyed it and plan on watching it again soon.

Catch the trailer here:

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