I, too, thought it could also be a reference to the British children being sent away on trains during the Battle of Britain bombings, which wouldn't make it any less poignant, but it makes more sense as a reference to the Kindertransport, as Paddington was as complete a foreigner to London as the German children would have been after Kristallnacht in the 30s.
Yes: with hindsight, I think it was wrong of me to imply there are strict “right” and “wrong” interpretations here.
The story of Michael Bond’s inspiration is quite well known, and I think most people familiar with it would have made the connection with Aunt Lucy’s comments.
However; it’s perfectly reasonable that anyone
not familiar with the story would assume she’s referring to the evacuation of Jewish children from Europe, and (as we’ve all observed), Mr Gruber clearly
is a reference to the
Kindertransport.
The thing is that the film is
full of various references to emigration and the search for a new home – particularly involving children. I meant to mention another reference when replying to another of the OP’s posts regarding the music. The song played by the calypso band (“London is the place for me”) was written by the Trinidadian musician Lord Kitchener, who was one of the original Windrushers: the Caribbean immigrants who arrived in Britain aboard the Empire Windrush in 1948.
Another less obvious reference is the play that Judy’s class are studying: “The Winter’s Tale”. Although the film plays it for laughs (
“Exit, pursued by…” “Paddington!”), the play’s plot revolves around the baby Perdita being transported abroad to Bohemia for her safety…
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BoyWiththeGreenHair
10 years ago
I had forgotten about the Winter's Tale reference! I had suspected there was something behind it but never followed through to look into it - I totally get where you're coming from
I feel like Paddington is a very unique anomaly not only among children's films, but among comedies in general nowadays in that it doesn't short-change the audience for cheap laughs. The sophistication and intricacies of the dialogue can appeal to both adults and children with a perfect balance, which is a rarity I haven't seen since the 90s with films like Little Princess, Indian in the Cupboard, Madeleine, or Matilda - all of which were well-written even while appealing to children as well.
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TrevorAclea
10 years ago
Mr Gruber clearly is a reference to the Kindertransport.
Mr Gruber is based on Michael Bond's first agent, Harvey Unna, although he was much older when he fled Germany:
“I wanted someone foreign because he was based on my first agent, a lovely man, a German Jew, who was in line to be the youngest judge in Germany, when he was warned his name was on a list, so he got out and came to England with just a suitcase and £25 to his name.”
"Security - release the badgers."
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Spielburger
10 years ago
Mr Gruber is based on Michael Bond's first agent, Harvey Unna, although he was much older when he fled Germany:
Thanks: I didn't know that.
I should have made it clearer, but I meant that the portrayal of Mr Gruber
in the film was a reference to the
Kindertransport. As you say, Harvey Unna would have been much older in real life.
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TrevorAclea
10 years ago
No, don't worry, you were perfectly clear - but really the only way for Mr Gruber to have been a refugee in the film and still spry enough to run his shop today was to make him Kindertransport, which is a perfect solution that's entirely in keeping with Bond's conception both of Paddington and Mr Gruber and works beautifully in the film.
"Security - release the badgers."
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