Ladies in Lavender (2004)

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

Better Late Then Never

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

This beautiful movie has great moments of humour and tenderness as two elderly sisters rescue a young man and help him regain his health after he is washed up on a beach near their home in southwestern England. The time is the 1930's, when the emotional scars of World War I made people in England suspicious of "foreigners". Yet this movie shows them following their best instincts. The movie is brilliant in its treatment of village life and the way the two sisters, admirably performed by Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, gave the young Polish violinist (Daniel Bruhl) the care, rest and medical assistance he needed to launch his career. The background photography captures a landscape that is rugged and pastoral. There is an excellent supporting cast who all do their part to help the young man. In the end, we see how the acts of kindness lead to a rewarding outcome without knowing how everything unfolded. The identity of the youth is a mystery and remains such, leaving the viewer to imagine what the possible scenarios could have been, given the political upheaval of the time. We also come to know the two women, "ladies in lavender", who find an affection for the youth that helps heal their own unfulfilled desires; in the case of Janet (Maggie Smith), a husband lost in the previous war and Ursula, no love at all in a world where many young men never returned home. Perhaps this movie shows how good can come out of disappointment.

Now this was on the queue of Foxtel's movie line ups. Despite the title I watched. What a wonderful find! Not the best period drama ever put on screen but a totally engaging one. I love Dench and Smith, so gracefully acted ... the man who plays the Polish castaway is very good. Such a shames his violin playing was rather less obviously shown, no amount of pretending will make a virtuoso, and it shows. There is a rather predictable twist, I shan't spoil it. Truly heartbreaking. The characterisation of the locals is brilliant, the maid wonderful and the cinematography and musical score top shelf. What comes through very clearly is the British distaste for foreingers, I guess as it was set in the 1930s ...

I'm not sure exactly what I'm "spoiling", because there isn't really a surprise ending, but I just want to cover my bases. I was attracted to this movie first, because it has Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, playing sisters. These two ladies are THE GRANDE DAMES of British Theater. The setting is the Cornwall coast, the period is late 1930s. A young, Polish man washes ashore (the reason/cause is never explained), he's not quite drowned, has a broken ankle and they decide to nurse him back to health, not knowing he doesn't speak English. Judi Dench's character immediately connects to him, although there is a vast age difference. He begins to pick up the language and exposes the talent of playing the violin like a virtuoso. A visiting neighbor, Olga, played by Natascha McElhorne hears him playing and is drawn to him like a moth to flame. But her interest is in his talent with the violin. She is an artist, her brother is a famous Russian violinist. She wants the sisters to convey her interest in his talent, but they hide that fact from him. Eventually, Olga and the young man meet and she spirits him to London to meet her brother. The young man then becomes famous and the two sisters return to normal life at their Cornwall home. I really enjoyed this movie and would recommend it to anyone that enjoys two SOLID performances by two great actresses.

Maggie Smith and Judi Dench have always managed to amaze me. This tender story is the type of film we need to show our children more of. They need to learn compassion for other cultures, because you never know when you will be helping a genius! Good plot, well-written screenplay and good job to all the actors! Good-luck to very very handsome Daniel Bruhl, also. The musical score of this film made me cry. The oboe and violin were absolutely breath-taking. Judi was also in Pride and Prejudice, so obviously she can portray any character! Thanks to Joseph Bell, without whom, we would not have had that wonderfully delightful music for this film.