Review of Ethel & Ernest (2016) by Luke E — 12 Aug 2017

This beautifully animated adaptation of Raymond Briggs' Graphic Novel is delightful and endearing from beginning to end. Following the lives of Briggs' parents from their first date in the 1920s, throughout the second world war whilst raising their son, until each of their deaths in the 1970s.

The film captures the time periods accurately to the brim, it's almost like stepping back in time. While I've also never read the graphic novel, I not only thought the direction was as fine as ever for a traditional animation but I also thought the voice acting felt just as real as the characters delivered their very natural dialogue.

Most of all however was the subject matter and contextual nature of the time periods the film captured within the eyes of these characters, It definitely made viewers question their own places in the 21st century.

While it might have run short of a 'Best Animated Feature' Oscar or any other award from last year or coming close to this year, I seriously recommend seeing this film, if it ever were to get a wider release date, just for people to see Raymond Briggs' personal story of his family on screen in such colour and animation.