In 1928 London milk-man Ernest Briggs courts and marries house-maid Ethel, their son Raymond being born in 1934. When World War II breaks out Ethel tearfully allows him to be evacuated to aunts in Dorset whilst Ernest joins the fire service, shocked by the carnage he sees. As hostilities end they celebrate Raymond's return and entry to grammar school and the birth of the welfare state though Ethel is mistrustful of socialism and progress in general. Raymond himself progresses... (Full plot summary below)
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In 1928 London milk-man Ernest Briggs courts and marries house-maid Ethel, their son Raymond being born in 1934. When World War II breaks out Ethel tearfully allows him to be evacuated to aunts in Dorset whilst Ernest joins the fire service, shocked by the carnage he sees. As hostilities end they celebrate Raymond's return and entry to grammar school and the birth of the welfare state though Ethel is mistrustful of socialism and progress in general. Raymond himself progresses from National Service to art college and a teaching post, worrying his mother by marrying schizophrenic Jean. However father and son console each other as Ethel slips away but before long Raymond is mourning his father too though both Ethel and Ernest will forever be immortalized by Raymond's touching account of their lives.
Leave your thoughts about Ethel & Ernest.
| HeyUGuysStefan PapeThe real accomplishment here is now having this beautiful affair immortalised through cinema. |
| Times (UK)Ed PottonEthel & Ernest is the kind of contemplative grown-up animation that the Japanese have been making for decades but the British have never fully embraced. That's our loss because the format can make for deceptively powerful filmmaking. |
| ScotsmanAlistair HarknessA lovely and poignant animated adaptation of Raymond Briggs's picture book biography of his eponymous working class parents. |
| Daily Express (UK)Allan HunterA modest, engaging feature that is as warm and welcome as a nice cup of tea. |
| Daily Telegraph (UK)Tim RobeySomething about the familiarity of these voices, and their inescapable Mike Leigh-ishness in this setting, turns out to be exactly what the roles need. |
| The ListMatthew TurnerBlethyn and Broadbent bring Ethel and Ernest to life with a pair of wonderful voice performances that convincingly capture the couple at every stage of their lives, with warmth and humour. |
| Seattle TimesJohn HartlSuggesting a matchup between Archie Bunker and Gracie Allen, Ethel & Ernest is a sweet British memoir/cartoon about an ordinary couple who survive the Blitz along with their growing son. |
| Time OutCath ClarkeButter a crumpet and snuggle down with this affectionate animation about illustrator Raymond Briggs's parents. |
| The Stranger (Seattle, WA)Sean Nelson... this adaptation of Raymond Briggs's graphic memoir of his parents' lives is both humble and profound, with gorgeous renderings of Briggs's justly famous lines. |
| South China Morning PostJames MottramDirected by Roger Mainwood, who has worked on many Briggs adaptations, the hand-drawn animation is as tender and gentle as the characters and their simple yet beautiful love story. |
