Synopsis

In 1920s Scotland, ten-year-old Fraser Pettigrew grows up on a grand family estate ruled by his formidable grandmother. His eccentric inventor father, affectionate mother, and lively relatives form a tightly controlled household until Fraser's uncle returns with a French fiancee. As old loyalties, romantic tensions, and family authority begin to shift, Fraser observes the adults while making discoveries of his own.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film is based on Denis Forman's autobiographical work Son of Adam, drawn from his childhood in the Scottish countryside during the 1920s.

• The title My Life So Far replaced the original book title. Forman reportedly preferred the name Son of Adam and was not enthusiastic about the change.

• Filming took place in Scotland, including Ardkinglas House near Cairndow in Argyll and Bute, which served as the family's large country home.

• The family business involving sphagnum moss reflects a real historical use of the material. During World War I, sphagnum moss was used in wound dressings because it could absorb considerable amounts of liquid.

• The soundtrack combines original music by Howard Blake with classical and period selections, including Beethoven, Saint-Saens' The Swan, My Love Is Like a Red, Red Rose, and Louis Armstrong's On the Sunny Side of the Street.

• The film was produced by Enigma Productions and Hudson Film and distributed in the United States by Miramax Films.