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A fond critique of "Miss Potter".

A touching and wonderful story,

By Antoni De'LeonPublished about a year ago 4 min read

I found myself drawn to the quaint and imaginative movie of Beatrix Potter on Netflix. From the beginning of the movie, I was quite taken by the zest for life of the main character. A smile formed on my lips which remained for almost the entire show. Only briefly was this rather pleasing expression replaced by sadness at the scene of her deep loss and mourning. Soon though, I was again smiling at the effervescent performance of Renee Zellweger.

It was such a joy to witness the breathtaking and complete abandon in the simple enjoyment of life. Beatrix poured all of her passion into her art and no one could stand in her way. She infused her characters with her immense imagination, treating them as if they were her children, playfully scolding them while embracing their quirkiness.

Beatrix, though born into a life of privilege, seemed completely oblivious to the trimmings of society, finding it mundane, frivolous and a waste of her time. She raced through life quite like Don Quixote chasing her literary and fanciful windmills. It was breathtaking to watch.

I was overwhelmingly mesmerized by the emotions and the totality of the infectious and warm childish abandonment to her craft. These feelings are infused into the hearts of the viewers.

Maybe it is just me, for that is entirely how I want to embrace that which brings me happiness and drowns my soul with pure and total euphoria.

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By the time she reached the age of 30, Beatrix, despite the constant, nagging reminder that she was a woman and so needed to know her place, had written and officially published her first original and classic children's storybook entitled The Tale of Peter Rabbit . It is a very widely popular classic children's story and had a universal appeal to people of all ages.

I distinctly remember reading this little book as a child. It was indeed quite a treasured little find, entertaining and fun.

The story took an unhappy turn at a point in time when she became romantically enamored and engaged to her then-publisher Norman Warne. Both of her parents unfortunately disapproved of this and became very angry with her as they disputed over the love affair.

The rather dreadful disagreement, based solely on the premise of their station in life, led to a tumultuous temporary separation of the couple. Beatrix's mother especially, did not want her to marry someone who was presumed socially lower than she was.

Beatrix had grown up totally prepared to be a single woman, making her own way in life. The unexpected development of meeting someone she could love, made this scene in the movie particularly sad. I cried with her when he passed away.

Warne, to whom she was affianced, had unexpectedly died just before he and Potter could even officially marry each other. It broke her heart, for they had found the rare gift of true love.

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How to paint story of Beatrix Potter

Picture a time of cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and the English countryside awash with the tender hues of twilight. In a small town of verdant hills and misty moors, a young girl named Beatrix Potter began to draw darling, beautiful animal pictures and compose the most enchanting tales.

Born in Victorian London, Beatrix was a quiet child with a vivid imagination. Her early years were spent in a grand house, filled with the scent of fresh ink and the rustle of sketch paper. She found companionship in her beloved pets—rabbits, mice, frogs, and all manner of small creatures who would soon leap from her imagination onto the pages of her stories.

Summers at her family’s countryside cottage ignited her fascination with the natural world. She would wander through emerald meadows, past burbling brooks, and beneath towering oaks, sketching everything she saw. Her keen eye for detail and love for nature would become the hallmarks of her art.

As the years passed, Beatrix grew into a talented illustrator. However, it was her plucky little rabbit, Peter, clad in his blue coat, who would whisk her into literary fame. “The Tale of Peter Rabbit,” self-published and modestly bound, scampered into the hearts of readers young and old.

With each new story, Beatrix introduced the world to more delightful characters—Jemima Puddle-Duck, Squirrel Nutkin, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle—and her fame blossomed. But beyond the charming tales, Beatrix harbored a deep love for the land. She became a dedicated conservationist, using her earnings to purchase and preserve vast tracts of the Lake District.

In her later years, Beatrix settled in a quaint farmhouse, Hill Top, with her husband, William Heelis. Here, surrounded by her beloved animals and the whispering woods, she continued to write, sketch, and protect the landscapes she cherished.

Beatrix Potter’s legacy is woven into the fabric of English heritage, her tales enduring as timeless memories of wonder. Her life was a gentle kaleidoscope of creativity, love for nature, and a simple, steadfast belief in the magic of storytelling.

And so, in the quiet corners of nurseries and libraries around the world, Beatrix’s characters live on, reminding us of the beauty of joy found especially endearing in the small things which makes the heart sing. For it is here wherein lies the true meaning of our existence, that which gives us the reason to arise to each brand new day, alive with the zest for life.

MoviePlot DevelopmentNonfiction

About the Creator

Antoni De'Leon

Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content. (Helen Keller).

Tiffany, Dhar, JBaz, Rommie, Grz, Paul, Mike, Sid, NA, Michelle L, Caitlin, Sarah P. List unfinished.

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Comments (4)

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  • Novel Allenabout a year ago

    I watched it too, you capture the heart of the movie so well, I too was captivated by the passion and heart of the author, A woman ahead of her time. Renee portrayed her emotions quite well. A very good review,

  • Tales by J.J.about a year ago

    Your vivid descriptions capture the essence of the movie and its enchanting portrayal of Beatrix's life and work. The way you convey the joy and passion she poured into her art, despite societal expectations and personal heartbreak, is truly moving.

  • This isn't something that I would watch but I immensely enjoyed your review!

  • JBazabout a year ago

    I read, heard or saw programs about this wonderful author A different world back then You did an excellent job with the review

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