A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Positive Messages
a little
Three orphans who become adopted sisters work hard to help their guardian through times of financial crisis, but for two of the characters the work becomes self-serving and an avenue for arrogance. The bonds of love are strong for this haphazardly formed family of women, who believe that "the world isn't kind to girls who can't support themselves." One sister pokes fun of other students and teachers, challenges a famous ballet master, and is more worried for her ballet training than her teacher when the woman becomes ill.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
very little
Dance teacher talks with nostalgia of meeting men at the stage door; brief scene of scantily clad dancers; adult characters pine for each other from afar for most of movie.
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Language
very little
This is a British production so some of the slang terms may be unfamiliar to children, like "skint," and "fa*g" as a name for a cigarette.
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
some
Director didn't skimp on era-appropriate adult smoking, though one new smoker chokes and throws a butt away after one puff.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that for children interested in the performing arts, this family-friendly movie and its emphasis on a rigid training regimen as a road to sure success will be appealing. A loving family comprising three girls adopted from around the world and their guardian and nanny is depicted, working together to overcome tough economic times in Britain in the 1930s. One child runs away but returns without harm. Expect plenty of era-appropriate smoking as well. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
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Ballet Shoes Official trailer
Ballet Shoes
Community Reviews
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- Parents say (4)
- Kids say (20)
age 6+
Based on 4 parent reviews
Ghjjjjj H. Adult
June 4, 2017
age 7+
Waste of time-wouldn't recommend
This is a very bad movie. Complete waste of my time. Thought that since Emma Watson was in it it would be good. All the characters were very snobby and did not learn their lesson in the end. At the end of the movie, you might think that the plot if actually going somewhere, but it ends up that everyone gets exactly what they want and no lessons are learned. There is practically no plot and absolutely no character development. Characters are not good role models. I can't believe I wasted 1 and a half hours on this. I lost so many brain cells.
Mummy Roo Adult
January 20, 2014
age 10+
No Positive Role Models Here
This has no real positive message aside rom the sacrifice the 'foster mother' and other adults make.The girls who play are the ballet dancer and actress, are spoilt, obnoxious brats only interested in themselves and their own ambitious strivings. Jealousy rules.My 11 yr old daughter hated it and said she thought they were horrible characters.It could have been a great story, with a bit more sacrifice and generosity on behalf of the young girls.
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See all 4 parent reviews
What's the Story?
Adapted from the 1937 book of the same title by British author Noel Streatfeild , BALLET SHOES tells the tale of the three Fossil sisters, orphans whose benefactor Great Uncle Matthew (Richard Griffiths) brings to London in the 1930s to be raised by his niece Sylvia (Emelia Fox) and the formidable Nana (Victoria Wood) while he continues his world adventures. As money runs low for the family, Pauline (Emma Watson), Petrova (Yasmin Paige), and Posy (Lucy Boynton) enroll in a performing arts school so that they can get theater jobs to help augment the family income. But each grapples with problems -- Pauline with her ego, Petrova with her ambivalence towards acting compared with her true love of flying, and Pansy with white-hot ambition -- that leave the family's "happy ending" in jeopardy.
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say (4):
Kids say (20):
Ballet Shoes presents an interesting slice of life that may seem anachronistic to children raised in the era of celebrity worship, and may require some explanation of the term "working actor." As the sisters achieve success on stage and in film, the family's money prospects don't visibly improve; they must still take in boarders and worry about paying the bills between curtain calls. There are also some mixed messages about the value of ambition and hard work: The sister who dreams of landing another steady acting job is accused of being selfish, though it's clear that those jobs are keeping the family afloat. Another sister who shows real talent as a ballerina is chastised when she speaks of her ambition, becomes unsympathetic in her pursuit of it, but then is lauded when she lands a spot with a professional ballet.
The cast of this BBC production is top notch, and fans of Hermione in the Harry Potter movies will probably enjoy seeing Watson in the Pauline role, though her acting is upstaged by that of the girls playing her sisters. Costumes, soundtrack, and sets are as high value as one would expect from a BBC production, bringing 1930s London to life. And scenes of the girls working hard to improve at the performing arts school emphasize that perennial lesson -- that nothing worth achieving comes easily. Ballet Shoes is a fine family film and shows that girl power isn't necessarily a modern invention.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the sacrifices that each family member makes when they begin to run short on money. Which character sacrifices the most? Which of the three sisters do you like the best, and why? What do you think happened to Pauline, Petrova, and Pansy after the movie story ends?
Movie Details
- In theaters: December 26, 2007
- On DVD or streaming: September 2, 2008
- Cast: Emma Watson, Lucy Boynton, Yasmin Paige
- Director: Sandra Goldbacher
- Inclusion Information: Female directors, Female actors
- Studio: BBC
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Arts and Dance, Book Characters, Brothers and Sisters
- Run time: 84 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: smoking.
- Last updated: June 20, 2023
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