DEAR FRANKIE (2004), 105 minutes

Frankie is a nine-year-old boy whose mother Lizzie is doing a questionable thing with the best of intentions. Frankie has only the vaguest memories of his father, but he gets regular letters from him, posted from all the places his father’s ship visits. The problem is that Lizzie is writing those letters, having fled from her abusive husband––-repeatedly picking up and moving across Scotland so he can’t find them. When Lizzie, Frankie and his crusty grandmother arrive in the port town of Greenock, just outside Glasgow, they find out his father’s presumed ship is due to arrive. Frankie is thrilled to finally meet his father and Lizzie is faced with a quandary about what to do. Her solution involves a stranger who will pose as Frankie’s father for a day, setting the stage for more than a few complications as expectations and conflicting emotions have their way.

BE ADVISED –– This film is rated PG-13, with smoking, drinking, profanity, yearning, bullying, a foray into one very menacing dive bar, and all the health problems involved with living above a fish-and-chips shop.