According to the Daily Mail, one in three children don’t live with their father, but rather depend on their mother or other guardian to take care of them— much like in the case of Frankie Morrison in the British drama, Dear Frankie.

As my first film review, I decided to briefly explain my rating system. On each review, the film will receive a number out of ten (ten being the highest). Thus, in my mind, Dear Frankie earned a seven out of ten. The film is enjoyable despite the somewhat lengthy duration. The intriguing plot keeps viewers guessing and therefore makes it worth sitting through the slower scenes. Ultimately, the movie is a realistic story of a mother’s love and protection for her son that subtly incorporates some of the struggles members of the deaf community face when confronted by people of the hearing community.

As a film produced in the early 2000’s, Dear Frankie does well capturing the essence and atmosphere of a modern day family. Even if the quality is lacking in some areas, the incredible performance of the actors proves to be a worthy feature; the dialogue seems to flow naturally. The British Sign Language which is intertwined throughout the film unites the hearing and deaf communities, as the film essentially makes good use of both BSL and English.

In addition to being visually pleasing, Dear Frankie adopts a questioning, coming-of-age tone that captures Frankie’s childlike innocence and preserves it as a theme for the film. The script is carefully crafted and has the ability to make viewers smile at some scenes and cry during others. An emotional rollercoaster, the film also integrates an appropriate soundtrack that compliments the plot and characters, featuring songs from similar genres.

As a fairly high-scoring movie, I would definitely recommend the film to anyone who appreciates a good drama. Director Shona Auerbach showcases her cinematographer skills and makes her creation, Dear Frankie, a must watch.