Nanny McPhee - small "c", big "P"

Saturday evening is family movie night. I was extra keen on this tonight as the clocks are going back. Once lights have been turned off,  a duvet and pillow brought downstairs, big bowl of popcorn and hot chocolate to drink (tea for me) we are ready.

Nanny McPhee the Big Bang is a really enjoyable and entertaining film for all ages and in my opinion much better than the first. It certainly kept my boys (6 and 3) transfixed for what is a fairly long movie (1 hour 50 mins).  This movie's backdrop is deep in the summer English countryside some time during the Second World War and it involves some scary female mobsters, the Hit Women, a stray enemy plane, synchronized swimming pigs and a lot of animal poo. 

The costumes and set designs were just charming and it certainly scored huge number of points for prettiness. The England portrayed was the perfect ideal, green rolling fields, higgldy piggledy farmhouses and  eccentric characters. The costumes by Jacqueline Durran were so colourful and sweet. Maggie Gyllenhaal's wardrobe made me very envious as I've always had a thing for liberty print and teadresses.

And once you get past all the poo and mud outdoors the interior sets were full of charm. Again everything is in muted jewel colours . I especially like this faded turquoise the contrasting pink vase in the family's best room. If you're also a fan of set design there is an interesting article here.

And how about this for a magical children's room?