lethargicMiss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008)
Directed by: Bharat Nalluri
Screenplay by: David Magee & Simon Beaufoy
Based on a novel by: Winifred Watson
Starring: Frances McDormand, Amy Adams, Lee Pace, Cairan Hinds, Shirley Henderson, Mark Strong, Tom Payne
Set in London on the cusp of World War II, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day tells the tale of 24 hours in the life of Guinevere Pettigrew (Frances McDormand), a recently unemployed governess who finagles her way into a job as a social secretary for a young actress/singer, Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams). Miss Pettigrew is suddenly swept up into high society and finds herself trying help Delysia make the choice between the three men in her life: Michael (Lee Pace), Nick (Mark Strong), and Phil (Tom Payne). She also meets Joe Bloomfield (Cairan Hinds), a handsome lingerie designer around her age who happens to be engaged to one of Delysia's friends, Edythe (Shirley Henderson).
The set design, costumes and music in this film were lovely. It really feels like 1939, so I was impressed by that aspect of the movie. I LOVED the costumes, especially; the late 1930s/1940s was such a great time for fashion.
Frances McDormand is wonderful as Miss Pettigrew. Her transformation from plain-jane, practically-living-on-the-st
Overall, Miss Pettigrew is a cute, fun movie. It's not too heavy...I think it was marketed as a romantic comedy (and there are definitely some parts that are a little sappy).
