I will confess I haven't read the book for a while, but I do remember it was a wonderful read, with great characters and a sweet story. The TV adaptation was just as charming as the book. The only real thing that undermines it is the changes to the story, so some scenes didn't seem as developed as others, though I will say I am not the sort of person who criticises a film or TV drama on its unfaithfulness to the source material. The adaptation does look lovely, with some stunning costumes and some nice locations. The direction mayn't be the best ever in a TV drama, but I have seen worse in films alone. Remember the incompetent direction in that abomination Home Alone 4? Anyway, back to Ballet Shoes; I thought the acting was excellent. Emma Watson, Yasmin Page and Lucy Boynton are very charming as three ambitious young girls, and they are solidly supported by Emilia Fox(the actress Joanna David's daughter),Gemma Jones, Eileen Atkins and Harriet Walter, and even Richard Griffiths is subdued to a secondary role. The actors are aided by a well written script, and some bits are even touching; I did feel sorry for Petrova when her dancing mentor had a stroke during the ballet performance. I thought that Ballet Shoes was a charming adaptation of an excellent book, but I don't think it is the best TV drama ever made; one truly remarkable TV drama of recent times that does spring to mind is the recent Occupation. 9/10 Bethany Cox.

Sylvia Brown (Emilia Fox) was a young orphan when she came to live with her paleontologist uncle 'Gum' Great Uncle Matthew. On his many travels, he rescued three baby girls and give them their names. Pauline Fossil (Emma Watson) is rescued from a lifeboat. Petrova Fossil (Yasmin Paige) is a Russian baby. Posy Fossil (Lucy Boynton) is left by her mother with ballet shoes, necklaces, and some money. The girls vow to be in the history books. They take in boarders. The girls get to train in Madame Fidolia's dance school.

I don't know anything about the novel. The movie feels stuffed with a bit too much plot. The center of this should be the relationship between the three girls. I would have prefer concentrating solely on the girls especially with the terrific work from Watson and Paige. They're the heart of this anyways. All three are terrific.

I swear to god, this is meant to be a family film but we see babies in bags,not buggies or even baby appropriate to carry the child! Seriously I am god smacked and extremely annoyed that they let this be filmed, this is considered child abuse!

Also, the acting wasn't the best at all. It may not have been a Hollywood sort movie but they should've at least given this movie a bit of a kick! It just looks so depressing and fake, it doesn't give you enough enlightenment to know that's it's a good movie! Emma Watson and Richard Griffiths(RIP) shouldn't have gotten involved in the film, it would probably be better off if they just stuck with Harry Potter that time.

I wouldn't recommend this to kids especially the younger ones!