A Bear Called Paddington & A Man Called Michael

This is the story of the unassuming man whose greatest creation, Paddington Bear, became one of the nation’s best loved characters. Now an international phenomenon, the little bear from Peru, was the product of a very particular post war world. Michael Bond drew on his wartime memories of evacuee children to shape Paddington’s personality and his literary agent, from a Jewish family who fled the Nazis, inspired Paddington’s kindly friend, Mr Gruber. The values of decency and tolerance Michael Bond saw in the world he grew up in, were the same he gave to the young bear and this film offers a fascinating, heart-warming portrait of the world that gave birth to Paddington. Featuring interviews with Michael Bond’s family, friends and celebrity admirers, the film will also remind us of the other classic characters Michael Bond created, among them The Herbs, Olga da Polga and Monsieur Pamplemousse.