Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
A Review of the Romantic Comedy Starring Frances McDormand
Jun 28, 2009
When Guinevere Pettigrew, played by Frances McDormand is fired from yet another failed governess job, she returns to her life on the street, hoping that the woman at the unemployment agency will be able to set her up with another job. Unfortunately Guinevere is sent away, but not before she steals the business card of a potential employer from her desk.
Three Men and a Lady
When Guinevere gets to the employer’s address, she quickly finds that her services as a governess are not needed; but her friendship is. Delysia Lafosse, an unmarried woman of leisure played by Amy Adams, is having “man trouble,” and enlists Guinevere to help her sort out her suitors as her “social secretary.” This is not an easy task, however, for each of Delysia’s three current boyfriends offer her something that she feels that she cannot live without. If she stays with Nick (Mark Strong), the foul-tempered club owner, she is guaranteed job security and the lovely apartment she is living in. On the other hand, Phil (Tom Payne), the son of a prominent theater producer, can give her what she’s always dreamed of: fame as an actress.
Her third boyfriend, Michael (Lee Pace), who knows more about her than anyone else, has nothing tangible to offer her. He cannot promise her fame, he cannot promise her money, he cannot even promise her a home. What he can promise her, however, is love. When Michael comes back from a stint in prison (where he was sent after trying to steal a diamond worthy of Delysia) he gives Delysia an ultimatum: she can choose to come to New York with him, where he will have nothing to give her but the promise of his undying love and his partnership in a cabaret show, or she can choose to stay in London with her other beaus and never see Michael again.
Love Games
Guinevere, of course, knows who Delysia should chose, and she knows that, deep down, Delysia knows it as well. As Delysia parades Miss Pettigrew around town, other women take an interest in her and ask her for her expertise in handling men. At first, Guinevere is thrilled to be of service to anyone, but she quickly realizes that none of the women, not even Delysia, are truly looking for love. They treat love as if it were a game, and Guinevere does not want to play.
Sensing the good in Delysia, as well as in Michael, Guinevere tries to get the two back together, and embarks on a truly unique and unpredicatable journey after which she may possibly be rewarded with true love herself.
Miss Pettigrew
At first glance, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day seems like it would be a dull film. It is set in 1939 London, where the world is worried about the coming war, and the women of the city are worried about fashion and appearing wealthy. However, it is the personalities of the characters that make the movie. Seemingly spoiled yet kind, Delysia is sometimes annoying, sometimes adorable, but always interesting to watch. Michael is funny, handsome, and kind-hearted, so much so that the viewers don’t care who he ends up with at the end of the film, as long as he is happy. Miss Pettigrew, of course, is a delight to watch as well, for even though she comes from the street, she can adapt to the new environment she finds herself in while still keeping her morals and ideals.
Sprinkled with humor as well as with heart, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day is a wonderful, yet little-known film that leaves the audience with a smile and a new appreciation for the more important things in life.
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