Ethel & Ernest

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The life and times of the parents of the hailed British graphic novelist Raymond Briggs.The life and times of the parents of the hailed British graphic novelist Raymond Briggs.The life and times of the parents of the hailed British graphic novelist Raymond Briggs.

Director
- Roger Mainwood
Writers
- Raymond Briggs
- Roger Mainwood
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.7/10

YOUR RATING

Director
- Roger Mainwood
Writers
- Raymond Briggs
- Roger Mainwood
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 3 wins & 9 nominations

Photos113

+ 109

Top cast16

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Jim Broadbent

Ernest Briggs
(voice)

Brenda Blethyn

Ethel Briggs
(voice)

Luke Treadaway

Raymond Briggs
(voice)

Macready Massey

Teenage Raymond Briggs
(voice)

Harry Collett

Young Raymond Briggs
(voice)

Roger Allam

1930s Doctor
(voice)

June Brown

Ernest's Stepmother
(voice)

Karyn Claydon

Jean
(voice)

Simon Day

Alf
(voice)

Pam Ferris

Mrs. Bennet
(voice)
…

Gillian Hanna

Midwife
(voice)
…

Alex Jordan

1970s Doctor
(voice)
…

Virginia McKenna

Lady of the House
(voice)

Peter Wight

Detective Sergeant Burnley
(voice)

Duncan Wisbey

Tailor
(voice)
…

Raymond Briggs

Self
(uncredited)

Director
- Roger Mainwood
Writers
- Raymond Briggs
- Roger Mainwood
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
As a wartime evacuee, the young Raymond is seen sketching a snowman based on a Christmas cake figurine. In 1978 'The Snowman' would become Raymond Briggs' most famous and successful book.

Goofs
While the house has French windows from the outside and again through the kitchen/dining room window, from inside the front room of the house they are missing with a wall where the windows should be.

Quotes
[first lines]
Raymond Briggs: [voice over] There was nothing extraordinary about my Mum and Dad, nothing dramatic, no divorce or anything, but they were my parents and I wanted to remember them by doing a picture book. It's a bit odd really, having a book about my parents up there in the best seller list among all the football heroes and cookbooks. They'd be proud of that, I suppose, or rather probably embarrassed too. I'd imagine they'd say, "It wasn't like that," or, "How can you talk about that?" Well, I have, and this is their story.

Connections
Featured in WatchMojoUK: Top 10 Greatest British Animations (2018)

Soundtracks
In the Blink of an Eye
Written by Paul McCartney
Performed by Paul McCartney
[Played over end credits]

User reviews33

Review

Featured review

8/10

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This is based on British graphic novelist Raymond Briggs' parents. It's 1928 London. Ernest Briggs (Jim Broadbent) rides his bike to work every day and he catches the eye of a Lady's maid Ethel (Brenda Blethyn) in her 30s. She's surprised when he shows up at the door asking for a date. It's the start of a life long love affair.

This reminds me of the first five minutes of Up. It's a poignant portrayal of a love that is built over a lifetime. It's not a happily ever after riding into the sunset. It's a life of living together, loving together, and working together. There are personal struggles and living under world struggles. It always hits me when a husband or wife can't survive after the death of the other. It's a good tissue movie.