Film Number 38 of 2022
The Film: Mrs Harris goes to Paris
The Cinema: Village Cinemas - The Rivoli, Camberwell
Stars: 4
My love affair with Paris continues. As soon as I saw the shorts of Mrs Harris goes to Paris, I was sold.
An English film, set in the early fifties which is a bit of a Cinderella story. Of course, I'm there with bells on.
And I wasn't disappointed. I want to see it again because it was lovely - the sort of film you take your Mum to - she'll love it too.
The plot is pretty basic. Mrs Ada Harris (the wonderful Lesley Manville) is a cleaning lady who looks after the houses of London's elite. Her husband has been missing in action from World War II and she has her heart set on his return. Unfortunately, this doesn't occur and Mrs Harris finds herself widowed. But after spotting a Dior frock at one of her wealthy client's places, she sets her heart on acquiring one of her own, by hook or by crook.
With her trusty friend Violet (Ellen Thomas) she sets out to make enough money to buy her dress. There's a potential love interest in the local bookie, Archie (Jason Isaacs - still thinking woman's crumpet). Astonishingly, she raises the funds and sets off to Paris to buy her dress.
In Paris, she meets Paris in the middle of a garbage strike. (Something I remember about Paris; they are always having a greve - they're always on strike). She's also met with a lot of disdain from the establishment as she wheedles her way into the couturier to finally get her dress. Her nemesis, Mme Colbert (Isabelle Huppert) crustily tries to keep Mrs Harris out of the place, but she is befriended by Andre (The currently ever-present Lucas Bravo), Dior's accountant, and Natasha (Alba Baptista) one of the house models.
Does Mrs Harris get her dress? Yes. Is that the end of it? No.
The heart of this movie is wonderful. It presents a tale of a woman who gets a second shot at life - taking control of it all the while and making some wonderful friends as she goes. It reminded me of those wonderful Audrey Hepburn and Katherine Hepburn films of similar ilk - think Roman Holiday, The Philadephia Story and Funny Face.
This is two hours of gorgeous escapism, beautifully told. Sure, it's a familiar tale, told well. It's light and frothy and fun. And you walk away feeling good about life.
I'll be finding somebody and going to see it again, just for the warm fuzzies and pretty things to look at.
Definitely take your Mum.
No comments:
Post a Comment