Arrietty Clock, a head-strong teenage Borrower, is desperate to explore life outside her family home hidden under the floorboards, but her parents, Pod and Homily, are terrified of the world of the ‘Human Beans’ and fiercely protective of their daughter.
Arrietty sneaks upstairs one night and befriends James, a lonely boy who lives above her in the house with his Grandmother and widowed father. Times are hard for James’ family: the death of his mother seems to have left a gaping hole in the family, and meanwhile, his father is unable to find work and they are in danger of losing their house. The discovery of Arrietty provides James with a welcome distraction from all of this, and he is delighted to have someone to play with.
However when the Borrowers’ hidden home is discovered by James’ formidable Grandmother, they are forced to abandon it and venture into the wide world. Arrietty is desperate to explore this new and exciting world, and is furious with her father for keeping it from her all these years.
Life suddenly seems much more exciting when she meets Spiller, a leather-jacketed tearaway who takes an instant shine to Arrietty. She’s not sure what to make of him, but when her parents are captured by Professor Mildeye, a scientist who is determined to restore his reputation and resurrect his academic career by exposing these ‘little people’ to the public, Arrietty is forced to accept that she can’t rescue them alone and will need Spiller’s help.
After a series of daring adventures, Arrietty, Spiller and James (much to Spiller’s disgust – he doesn’t need the help of a Human Bean, much less one whom Arrietty seems to be such good friends with) manage to out-smart Mildeye and free Pod and Homily.
As Christmas comes around and it looks as if James’ family will also be turfed onto the street, their financial troubles are solved by the return of an antique gold coin that Pod had ‘borrowed’ years before. The Borrowers are also able to return to their former home to enjoy Christmas together, Pod and Arrietty make their peace with one another, and even Arrietty and Spiller seem to be getting on at last.
This is a fast-paced tale of adventure that will be funny and thrilling, while at its heart is a message about the importance of family and our relationships with the people we love.
Key cast and crew
Borrowers
Christopher Eccleston - plays POD
Sharon Horgan - plays HOMILY
Aisling Loftus - plays ARRIETTY
Robert Sheehan - plays SPILLER
Human Beans
Charles Hiscock - plays JAMES
Shaun Dooley - plays ROBERT MILLMAN
Victoria Wood - plays GRANNY DRIVER
Stephen Fry - plays PROFESSOR MILDEYE
Anne Hirsch - plays JENNY
Warona Seane - plays DEAN KAREN RICHARDS
Production Credits
Producer - Radford Neville (Married, Single, Other; Wuthering Heights)
Director - Tom Harper (Misfits; This is England)
Writer - Ben Vanstone (Merlin; EastEnders)
Exec Producers - Juliette Howell, Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner (Working Title Television), Polly Hill (BBC)
