Toast (film)
Encyclopedia
Toast is a British TV film directed by S.J. Clarkson, and based on cookery writer Nigel Slater
's autobiographical novel of the same name.
Freddie Highmore
plays a 15-year-old Slater, with Helena Bonham Carter
as his stepmother and Ken Stott
as his father. The first showing was on BBC One
on 30 December 2010 and the film received a gala at the 2011 Berlin Film Festival.
The film was released in cinemas on 11 August 2011.
) is a poor cook with chronic asthma
. As her illness worsens, so does Nigel's relationship with his father (Ken Stott
). After Nigel's mother dies, his father begins to spend his evenings with newly divorced cleaner Mrs Potter (Helena Bonham Carter
), whose signature lemon meringue pie
is a hit with Mr Slater. The two embark on a relationship, and soon move to a remote part of the Herefordshire countryside with Nigel, who dislikes his father's new partner.
Nigel finds solace in home economics
classes at school, and uses his improved culinary skills to gain his father's affections, thus becoming Mrs Potter's rival. The excessive food causes Mr Slater to gain weight and become more temperamental. Nigel soon lands a job in the kitchen of his local pub to avoid Mrs Potter, and falls in love with the landlady's son; the relationship is cut short when the latter leaves town.
When Mr Slater dies from an implied heart attack from the food that Mrs. Potter has been feeding him, Nigel's mind is set as he packs a bag for London, leaving Mrs Potter behind. While leaving the country home, Nigel thanks Mrs Potter and to her confusion, walks off. He soon arrives at The Savoy Hotel where he is offered a job in the kitchen (by a chef
portayed by the actual Nigel Slater).
and Worcestershire
with the Black Country Living Museum
turned into 1960's Wolverhampton. The main sets were built in a disused bank on Broad St. The location filming of Penarth was the only very wet and cold day of the whole shoot and script changes occurred on the day to accommodate. Filming lasted from 21 June to 24 July 2010.
Nigel Slater
Nigel Slater is an English food writer, journalist and broadcaster. He has written a column for The Observer Magazine for over a decade and is the principal writer for the Observer Food Monthly supplement. Prior to this, Slater was food writer for Marie Claire for five years...
's autobiographical novel of the same name.
Freddie Highmore
Freddie Highmore
Alfred Thomas "Freddie" Highmore is an English actor. He is best known for his roles in the films Finding Neverland, Five Children and It, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Arthur and the Invisibles, August Rush, The Golden Compass, The Spiderwick Chronicles, and Toast.-Early life:Highmore was...
plays a 15-year-old Slater, with Helena Bonham Carter
Helena Bonham Carter
Helena Bonham Carter is an English actress of film, stage, and television. She made her acting debut in a television adaptation of K. M. Peyton's A Pattern of Roses before winning her first film role as the titular character in Lady Jane...
as his stepmother and Ken Stott
Ken Stott
Kenneth Campbell "Ken" Stott is a Scottish actor, particularly known in the United Kingdom for his many roles in television.-Early life:...
as his father. The first showing was on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
on 30 December 2010 and the film received a gala at the 2011 Berlin Film Festival.
The film was released in cinemas on 11 August 2011.
Plot
Nigel Slater is keen on cooking while his mother (Victoria HamiltonVictoria Hamilton
Victoria Sharp is an English actress who performs under the stage name Victoria Hamilton.-Early life:Hamilton was born on 5 April 1971 in Wimbledon, London, England, and grew up in Godalming, Surrey. She trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.-Career:Hamilton is best known for her...
) is a poor cook with chronic asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
. As her illness worsens, so does Nigel's relationship with his father (Ken Stott
Ken Stott
Kenneth Campbell "Ken" Stott is a Scottish actor, particularly known in the United Kingdom for his many roles in television.-Early life:...
). After Nigel's mother dies, his father begins to spend his evenings with newly divorced cleaner Mrs Potter (Helena Bonham Carter
Helena Bonham Carter
Helena Bonham Carter is an English actress of film, stage, and television. She made her acting debut in a television adaptation of K. M. Peyton's A Pattern of Roses before winning her first film role as the titular character in Lady Jane...
), whose signature lemon meringue pie
Lemon meringue pie
Lemon meringue pie is a type of baked pie, usually served for dessert, made with a crust usually made of shortcrust or shortbread pastry, lemon curd filling and a fluffy meringue topping. Lemon meringue pie is typically prepared with a bottom pie crust, but with no upper crust: i.e. the meringue is...
is a hit with Mr Slater. The two embark on a relationship, and soon move to a remote part of the Herefordshire countryside with Nigel, who dislikes his father's new partner.
Nigel finds solace in home economics
Home Economics
Home economics is the profession and field of study that deals with the economics and management of the home and community...
classes at school, and uses his improved culinary skills to gain his father's affections, thus becoming Mrs Potter's rival. The excessive food causes Mr Slater to gain weight and become more temperamental. Nigel soon lands a job in the kitchen of his local pub to avoid Mrs Potter, and falls in love with the landlady's son; the relationship is cut short when the latter leaves town.
When Mr Slater dies from an implied heart attack from the food that Mrs. Potter has been feeding him, Nigel's mind is set as he packs a bag for London, leaving Mrs Potter behind. While leaving the country home, Nigel thanks Mrs Potter and to her confusion, walks off. He soon arrives at The Savoy Hotel where he is offered a job in the kitchen (by a chef
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
portayed by the actual Nigel Slater).
Cast
- Helena Bonham CarterHelena Bonham CarterHelena Bonham Carter is an English actress of film, stage, and television. She made her acting debut in a television adaptation of K. M. Peyton's A Pattern of Roses before winning her first film role as the titular character in Lady Jane...
as Joan Potter - Freddie HighmoreFreddie HighmoreAlfred Thomas "Freddie" Highmore is an English actor. He is best known for his roles in the films Finding Neverland, Five Children and It, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Arthur and the Invisibles, August Rush, The Golden Compass, The Spiderwick Chronicles, and Toast.-Early life:Highmore was...
as Older Nigel SlaterNigel SlaterNigel Slater is an English food writer, journalist and broadcaster. He has written a column for The Observer Magazine for over a decade and is the principal writer for the Observer Food Monthly supplement. Prior to this, Slater was food writer for Marie Claire for five years... - Ken StottKen StottKenneth Campbell "Ken" Stott is a Scottish actor, particularly known in the United Kingdom for his many roles in television.-Early life:...
as Dad - Oscar Kennedy as Young Nigel Slater
- Frasier Huckle as Warrel
- Victoria HamiltonVictoria HamiltonVictoria Sharp is an English actress who performs under the stage name Victoria Hamilton.-Early life:Hamilton was born on 5 April 1971 in Wimbledon, London, England, and grew up in Godalming, Surrey. She trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.-Career:Hamilton is best known for her...
as Mum - Matthew McNultyMatthew McNultyMatthew McNulty is an English actor of film and television.-Film:*Geography of the Hapless Heart as Jamie*Messengers 2: The Scarecrow as Deputy Milton...
as Josh - Clare HigginsClare HigginsMary Clare Higgins, a Democrat, was elected to her first term as Mayor of Northampton, Massachusetts in November 1999; she took office in January 2000. She was elected to a sixth two-yearterm in November 2009...
as Mavis - Ben AldridgeBen Aldridge (actor)Ben Aldridge is an English actor, born in Devon. He is notable for his role as Harry Fanshawe, husband of the title character in the 2008 The Devil's Whore along with appearances in Compulsion . He was noted in Screen International's 2008 "Stars of Tomorrow"...
as Stuart - Selina CadellSelina CadellSelina Cadell is an English actress. She is the sister of the late actor Simon Cadell and granddaughter of the actress Jean Cadell.....
as Ruby - Sarah Middleton as Beany
- Kia Pegg as Primary School Girl
- Nigel SlaterNigel SlaterNigel Slater is an English food writer, journalist and broadcaster. He has written a column for The Observer Magazine for over a decade and is the principal writer for the Observer Food Monthly supplement. Prior to this, Slater was food writer for Marie Claire for five years...
as Chef
Production
The film was mainly shot in BirminghamBirmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
with the Black Country Living Museum
Black Country Living Museum
The Black Country Living Museum is an open-air museum of rebuilt historic buildings, located in Dudley in the West Midlands of England. The museum occupies a urban heritage park in the shadow of Dudley Castle in the centre of the Black Country conurbation...
turned into 1960's Wolverhampton. The main sets were built in a disused bank on Broad St. The location filming of Penarth was the only very wet and cold day of the whole shoot and script changes occurred on the day to accommodate. Filming lasted from 21 June to 24 July 2010.