Get ready for an unforgettable adventure! The beloved bear is back, and this time he's on a quest to find his missing aunt in the heart of the Amazon. Will he uncover the secrets of a los...
On January 16, 2025, the film "Paddington's Adventures in Peru" will premiere in theaters across Ukraine – the third installment of the tale about the world's most lovable bear. It is also the most successful British film franchise, with the first two films grossing approximately $500 million worldwide.
The new story begins when the bear in London receives a letter from a nun who runs a Peruvian retirement home for bears, where his aunt, bear Lucy, resides. The nun writes to Paddington that Lucy misses him dearly. Therefore, Paddington and the Brown family, who took him in England, set off across the ocean to visit the elderly bear. However, upon arrival, they discover that Lucy has... disappeared from the retirement home, having embarked on a mysterious quest. To find her, they must navigate the Amazon River deep into the jungle, hiring a riverboat captain and his charming daughter to assist them. Soon, their search for Aunt Lucy transforms into a hunt for an entire lost city – the mythical El Dorado.
The beloved actors will reprise their roles in the new "Paddington Adventures": the Brown family, including Hugh Bonneville ("Downton Abbey"), Madeline Harris, and Samuel Joslin. However, there is a new Mrs. Brown: instead of Sally Hawkins, she will be played by Emily Mortimer ("Mary Poppins Returns"). Additionally, two true superstars have joined the cast: Oscar winner Olivia Colman, who plays the nun, and Antonio Banderas as the captain.
So, as we prepare for a trip to the cinema to see this vibrant, funny, and heartwarming film, it's the perfect time to learn – who exactly is Paddington, where did he come from, and how did he become one of the symbols of Great Britain?
Who Created Paddington
The bear Paddington first appeared on October 13, 1958, in the children's book "A Bear Called Paddington" by British author Michael Bond. Overall, Bond wrote 29 books about him, which have sold millions worldwide and have been translated into over 30 languages. The last book, "Paddington at St. Paul's Cathedral," was published in 2018 – after the author's passing in 2017.
Bond was inspired by a lonely teddy bear he spotted on a shelf in a London store just before Christmas in 1956. Bond explained that the bear looked "rather sad," and he bought it as a gift for his wife.
This bear inspired Bond to write the story, and within ten days, he completed his first book. He named the bear Paddington because he lived near a station of the same name at the time, thinking it would make a great name for the character. Bond's daughter, Karen, later remarked: "If he had lived in another part of the country or hadn't traveled by train, the idea of a bear found at Paddington Station might never have come about."
The book was first published on October 13, 1958, by William Collins & Sons.
Over the years, Paddington has become one of the most beloved characters in children's literature and a true cultural phenomenon in Great Britain. Actor Stephen Fry, who became the voice of the Paddington audiobook, called him "a great British symbol – with his charm, humor, spirit of adventure, and generosity."
What Paddington Has in Common with WWII Refugee Children
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While all of Paddington's stories are very kind and lighthearted, they are rooted in very sad and tragic events.
Michael Bond was a child during World War II and recalled seeing evacuated children from London being relocated to his hometown of Reading, where his parents opened their home to such children.
In a 2010 letter to Paddington film producer Rosie Alison, Michael shared that children from Nazi Germany also came to their home: "We took in Jewish children who often sat by the fireplace in the evenings, quietly crying because they didn't know what had happened to their parents. And we didn't know either..."
When Paddington arrived in London, he had a tag around his neck that read, "Please take care of this bear." Bond, recalling the refugee children at the train stations, said: "They all had tags around their necks with their names and addresses, and in their hands were small suitcases or packages containing their most valued possessions. So, in a sense, Paddington was a refugee, and I believe there is nothing more heartbreaking than refugees."
Why the Bear Ended Up Across the Ocean
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When discussing Paddington being a refugee in a certain sense, Bond did not mean that the bear was fleeing from war. However, he still traveled across the ocean under unfortunate circumstances.
The bear hails from Peru, where, after being orphaned by an earthquake at just a few weeks old, he was raised by his aunt Lucy (the same one he is searching for in the new film).
When Aunt Lucy moved to the retirement home for bears, she could no longer care for her nephew and decided to send him to Great Britain. After teaching him to speak English perfectly, Aunt Lucy arranged for him to secretly board a lifeboat on a ship.
Ultimately, Paddington arrived at Paddington Station in London, where he was found by Mr. and Mrs. Brown. He was sitting on a small suitcase near the lost property office, dressed only in an old hat, with a tag around his neck that read: "Please take care of this bear. Thank you."