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When a young Polish man washes up on a Cornish beach, two spinster sisters take care of him. His arrival causes tongues, and hearts, to flap. | score B |
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| Cast Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Daniel Bruhl Director Charles Dance Screenwriter Charles Dance Country UK Rating / Running Time M / 99 minutes Australian Release March 2005 Official Site (c) moviereview
2005
ABN 72 775 390 361 |
There
is nothing like a dame and nothing quite like Dames Judi Dench and
Maggie Smith. Director Charles Dance couldn’t go wrong with this
dream team to evoke the story set in a Cornish fishing village during
the 1930’s. But this is no Mills and Boon romance, not when these
elderly sisters swoon over a young Polish man, Daniel Bruhl, who
literally washes up on their doorstep one stormy morning. Taken into
their care he causes a few tongues to flap in the nearby township,
mostly because he’s unable to explain what he’s doing
there. Post-war Britain is a cautious place. He also causes a few
hearts to flutter, notably that of younger sister Ursula (Dench) whose
extreme reaction is a surprise to all. As English lessons reap rewards
and endear the visitor to the occasionally xenophobic villagers, a
beautiful young artist captures his attention. Near tragedy is not far
behind. Although Dance’s direction is somewhat self-conscious,
the effortless performance of his leads is terrific. It’s a joy
to see them out of the corseted constraint of period drama and working
together for the first time since Zeffirelli’s Tea With Mussolini
(1999). They bring a subtle humanity and humour to this restrained
story of requite and regret with a hint of Agatha Christie about its
edges. Ladies In Lavender is a
sweet film that will find favour with ABC literati and fans of the
great Dames in equal measure. Grab your Grannie and take tea with the
ladies in lavender – you won’t regret it. // COLIN FRASER |