The Borrowers (2011 film) facts for kids

The Borrowers is a British TV movie from 2011. It stars famous actors like Stephen Fry, Christopher Eccleston, and Victoria Wood. The movie is based on the classic 1952 book The Borrowers by Mary Norton. It tells the exciting story of a tiny family who live secretly in our world.

Plot Summary

This film follows the adventures of the Clock family. They are tiny people called "Borrowers." They live hidden under the floorboards of a big house. The house belongs to Mrs. Driver and her grandson, James Hellman.

The Clock Family's Secret

The Clock family includes Pod, Homily, and their daughter Arrietty. They "borrow" small items from the human world to survive. Mrs. Driver, James's grandmother, suspects that things are going missing. She doesn't know about the tiny Borrowers yet.

One day, Arrietty Clock is seen by James. They quickly become friends. James tries to keep the Borrowers a secret. But Mrs. Driver's suspicions grow stronger. She finds missing items, like dollhouse furniture. She starts looking online for "little people."

A New Friend and a Big Problem

Mrs. Driver finds Professor Mildeye online. He is a university professor who studies tiny human-like creatures. He calls them Homo sapiens redactus. Professor Mildeye visits the house to learn more. James tries to pretend he took the missing items. This is to protect his tiny friends.

But the Borrowers' secret home is no longer safe. The Clock family must escape. They use a drainpipe to get into the sewers. Pod, Arrietty's dad, is upset with her. He thinks she was careless.

Escape and New Discoveries

Pod and Homily take Arrietty to an old, unused subway station. Arrietty is amazed to find a busy community of other tiny people there. She had no idea they existed! A biker-like leader named Spiller almost runs her over. Homily makes Spiller apologize.

Pod then hires Spiller with a gold coin. He wants Spiller to guide them to a new home. Arrietty and Spiller start to become friends.

Danger and Rescue

Meanwhile, Professor Mildeye and his assistant Jenny set traps. They place them in the sewers near the house. Arrietty accidentally triggers one of the traps. Her parents push her out of the way and get caught instead. Spiller pulls Arrietty to safety, as Pod asked him to.

Mildeye takes the captured Clocks to his lab. James finds out and secretly deletes Mildeye's message. This message was meant for Mrs. Driver. Mrs. Driver is worried about money problems. She might lose their home.

Arrietty is desperate to save her parents. She argues with Spiller and leaves him. But he follows her and saves her from a street cleaner. They hide in a tiny nativity scene at a church. Spiller tells Arrietty why Pod left the Borrower city. Pod had to sacrifice his niece to save their community. This made him a reluctant hero. Arrietty and Spiller decide to go back to James's house for help.

The Great Escape

Pod and Homily try to escape from Mildeye's lab. But Mildeye catches them. He learns they can talk! He plans to show them to the world at a big meeting. James sees this news on TV.

With James's help, Spiller and Arrietty fly over the meeting place. They use James's new model plane, a Christmas gift from his dad. They parachute down and sneak into the lab through air vents.

James distracts Mildeye and Jenny. He tells them about more tiny people communities. He also secretly puts a remote control car inside a vent. This car will help the Borrowers escape. Mildeye gets back to the lab too late. The Clocks get away! Mildeye chases them through the building. But they reach James, who hides them in his backpack. Meanwhile, Jenny tries to catch Spiller in the lab.

Happy Endings

Everyone except Spiller watches the meeting online from home. Mildeye can only show a doll's jacket. His audience leaves, disappointed. When James closes his laptop, Spiller appears. He had snuck in unseen! He asks, "Did you really think they'd catch me?"

Arrietty finally admits she likes Spiller. Spiller acts embarrassed. He pretends he only wanted the gold coin. James finds the rare coin his grandmother was looking for. He places it in his mom's old room for Mrs. Driver to find. James and his dad sell the coin. This helps them pay for their house and Christmas. James's dad wonders why all the strawberry creams are missing from a chocolate tin. Pod had "borrowed" them earlier.

Under the floorboards, the Clock family celebrates. Pod and Homily let Arrietty choose her own path. She decides to return to the Borrower city with Spiller. They say goodbye by the drainpipe. Arrietty promises to visit. The movie ends with Arrietty jumping into the sewers. After the credits, Mrs. Driver drops a strawberry cream chocolate down the Borrower hole. She whispers, "Merry Christmas."

Who's Who in The Borrowers?

• Christopher Eccleston as Pod Clock, the father Borrower.
• Sharon Horgan as Homily Clock, the mother Borrower.
• Aisling Loftus as Arrietty Clock, the daughter Borrower.
• Robert Sheehan as Spiller, a Borrower from the city.
• Francis Chouler as Spiller's Mate, another Borrower.
• Charlie Hiscock as James Millman, the boy who finds the Borrowers.
• Victoria Wood as Mrs Driver, James' grandmother.
• Shaun Dooley as Robert Millman, James' father.
• Stephen Fry as Professor Mildeye, the scientist.
• Anne Hirsch as Jenny, Professor Mildeye's assistant.
• Ruby Wax as the Town Hall Clerk (seen in the film credits).