This is a beautiful written movie of a ordinary couple in 20th century London, England from the day they met, courted or dated in the modern term, marriage, having their son, the struggles during World War II and more. Showing the simple times of Raymond Briggs’s parents and him growing up. This is based off the true story of Ernest and Ethel Briggs and the story book Raymond Briggs first written and illustrated himself before creating this beautiful story with a bittersweet ending but not in a sad way as his parents were happily married for 40 years until their deaths. I happily watched this film over again as it is one of the many wonderful works Raymond Briggs has ever created for the BBC.

Gentle and sweet. A love story that is just that. A simple story of ordinary people and their lives. The voice actors are just fantastic and help lovingly bring this story to life.

Sweet and honest in its 50-year span of British family history, Ethel & Ernest is a dedication to the greatest generation as well as the realities and humilities of married life.

An actual Phenomenal Movie. This movie is actually great and I 100% recommend you watch it. Ethel & Ernest is one of the sweetest movie I've watched, but it's also very gut wrenching. This actually gets very sad at the end. It is slow, but trust me that you won't regret watching this. This is definitely going on my favorite movie list.

I thought the characters (although in cartoon form) were very believable the voices were excellent and the storyline very moving. I had to view from beginning to end although I only put it on to watch in between programmes. Well done to all concerned on this production

Just 1 year younger than the author, never evacuated, I grew up 200yds away in Southfields SW18 (the constituency border ran down the middle of Revelstoke Road). Before the electric van featured in the film, the milkman came round with a horse drawn milk float, not on foot. One day in 1946, a milkman's horse bolted in Astonville Street and ended up in the sweetshop opposite in Revelstoke Road. The bomb damage featured in the film might have been in Stuart Road, the next parallel road, other references elsewhere might suggest this was a V1 'doodle bug', but I was never made aware of this, and the site was only a site of perhaps 4 demolished houses. As lads in SW18 we went regularly every 3 weeks to the barbers in Durnsford Road, and rather than 'want' a pair of boots, we refused to wear them. Out of after school earnings, as delivery boy/paperround, we had motorbikes (long before the term 'mods and rockers') and would meet at the top of Revelstoke Road outside the park gates, to admire other riders readily available old bikes we could buy. Should someone with long hair have riden up on a Lamberta, we would have considered this 'infra dig'. Up to a point I enjoyed the film, but living in Southfields (the grid) during the 1940/50s was distinctly different to be living in Ashen Grove, the Avenues or Roads of Wimbledon Park (just the other side of Revelstoke Road).

Completamente apaixonada pelo romance Ethel & Ernest, Como o próprio autor do romance e filho do casal, Raymond Briggs, descreveu não é nada marcante na relação de ambos, entretanto é tudo simplesmente apaixonante, intensamente significante e sincero, além de presenciarmos o progresso e evolução da sociedade...

A truly lovely animated film, from the creator of The Snowman

Raymond Briggs touching story and legacy to his parents will resonate with many people of a certain age/generation as it speeds through the war and changing times of the 1930's through to the 1960's . Warm, emotional, dark and sometimes satirical but above all expunging huge honesty. Mr Briggs and all the supporting set really knows how to get the nation sobbing and onside especially at Christmas time. The political differences between Ernest and Ethel draw huge parallel's with Brexiteers and remainers all of whom could learn much from the warmth and love between Raymonds Mum and Dad. Brilliant.

A beautifully made cartoon with more warmth a feeling than most live action films. Likeable characters brilliantly played by Blethyn and broadbent that you end up really caring about. Quite moving at times. This is highly recommend. And great family viewing as well.

Raymond Briggs' tells the wonderfully uneventful tale of his beloved parents' sweet-tempered marriage through nostalgic storybook-style watercolour illustration. Not only are the textured backdrops and sharp patterned decals aesthetically pleasing, the careful colour schemes (especially of the backyard gardens and the gorgeous English countryside) and the incessantly rosy cheeks of all of the characters involved brings a constant air of warmth and intimacy every step of the way. This soft tribute is guaranteed to crack a smile or two and remind us of those in our own lives whom we care so much. [B] -- 73%

Wonderful, truly wonderful. 'Ethel & Ernest' really took me by surprise with the amount of depth and emotion that it packs into the story of the title characters lives - the ups and downs, the good and the bad, the extraordinary and the ordinary. It really captures the spirit of the era they grew up in, as well as how people were back then, and it does it with deceptively simple but beautiful animation, a whole lot of grace and an unmistakably British spirit. It captures the lives of a simple, working class couple who weren't perfect, but who lived in incredible times and, throughout it all, maintained their love for life and for one another. Nostalgic and very affecting, it was clearly made with love and I'm not ashamed to say that it was more than once I had to swallow the lump in my throat. It really is an absolutely charming and absorbing film, even if it isn't as exciting (it really has that traditional, subtle feel to it) as what we've come to expect from modern-day animations.

A nice line-drawn animation (thank goodness NO CGI!) of the ordinary life of the author's parents in extraordinary times, from their courting and marrying in the 20s, through World War II. It's a great perspective of what ordinary working-class Brits went through during the "Battle of Britain." Probably more meaningful for English viewers.

wonderful charming animated story

Preciosa película en la que el ilustrador Raymond Briggs nos cuenta la vida de sus padres, y parte de la suya. Una historia muy sencilla, muy bien puesta, muy bien animada y muy profunda.

An amazing slice of history and the human spirit. At times one forgets they are watching animation and peering into the human soul. Happiness, sorrow, bonds and family have never been more POIGNANTLY presented. A real STUNNER!

This beautifully animated adaptation of Raymond Briggs' Graphic Novel is delightful and endearing from beginning to end. Following the lives of Briggs' parents from their first date in the 1920s, throughout the second world war whilst raising their son, until each of their deaths in the 1970s. The film captures the time periods accurately to the brim, it's almost like stepping back in time. While I've also never read the graphic novel, I not only thought the direction was as fine as ever for a traditional animation but I also thought the voice acting felt just as real as the characters delivered their very natural dialogue. Most of all however was the subject matter and contextual nature of the time periods the film captured within the eyes of these characters, It definitely made viewers question their own places in the 21st century. While it might have run short of a 'Best Animated Feature' Oscar or any other award from last year or coming close to this year, I seriously recommend seeing this film, if it ever were to get a wider release date, just for people to see Raymond Briggs' personal story of his family on screen in such colour and animation.

Very touching. Briggs' tribute to his loving parents, from their meeting to their deaths in 1971. Beautifully drawn and animated, and voiced by Blethyn and Broadbent. The narrative is very much that of our parents' generation and their experience of everyday British life before, during and after WWII. Briggs doesn't shy away from the realities of his parents' lives, or for that matter of their deaths. I'm not sure why Briggs' work is usually broadcast around Christmas, but there you go.

Not ashamed to say I'm a blubbering wreck after watching this. I can't recommend it highly enough. Raymond Briggs is so clever in the way he brings out the emotional impact of the 'everyday.' Loved it.

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