The Lady in the Van

CinemaSerf

May 10, 2024 · via TMDB

★ 7.0

As the writer himself acknowledges at the end, he's augmented this a little but most of it is already the stuff you couldn't make up! He buys a new home in a well-to-do street in London's Camden only to find the area "blighted" by a curmudgeonly and smelly old woman who lives out of her rusting old van. When it comes time for her to move on, she ends up parked outside his new home and prevails upon him to use his facilities. That's just the start of a friendship that develops over fifteen years in which Bennett (Alex Jennings) discovers that this is an interesting and talented lady. It's quite easy to make judgements about her (Dame Maggie Smith) in the beginning, but as we go along we begin to realise that her supposed temporary existence has come to suit her perfectly, even if it does irritate her more respectable neighbours. The story of their relationship is told by the renowned playwright talking to himself much of the time and this series of conversations questions not just her existence but his own too. His narration is witty, perceptive and entertainingly expressive and the whole thing is enigmatically topped off by an actor who seems to be having an whale of a time portraying a woman of true character. It is a little bit long and does rather run out of steam towards the inevitable conclusion, but it does make you stop and think a little about homelessness, ageing and just how satisfying life can (or cannot) be.

Reno

May 4, 2016 · via TMDB

★ 8.0

> According to her guidance, this is where it should go! Her legend continues. I was talking about Maggie Smith, she's 82 years old and still her performances can compete with younger generation actors. The story was narrated from someone's perspective about the role she played, that's why it's little weakened, otherwise if she was in solo, it would have been an Oscar worthy. Incidentally, that someone was an actual writer, so the film ended up portraying her very well, beside himself. Inspired by the real story of an old lady who lived in a van for the 15 years during the 70s in the London's residential driveways. This film tells the mystery behind the state of her condition and actions. Actually, I expected it to be like 'Little Miss Sunshine', a road film, but after learning it was a biopic I am impressed with the overall movie. An heartfully enjoyable comedy-drama with a small suspense in the plot. In fact, the whole film developed pretty well because of the opening event that hidden from us to reveal at the conclusion. It was a bit of fantasy as well, especially the end was too much of it. On the Mary Shepard character, it reminded me Mrs. Julia Wicket from the Mr. Bean's animated series. Similar kind of attitude like don't care about others, especially when everyone around her showing some kind of respect and care, she was more a sceptical for us. The film was shot in the real locations. That was an advantage for filmmaking, and for us to witness from very close to the original. 8/10