Ladies in Lavender (2004)

Two elderly sisters (Maggie Smith and Judi Dench) live along the Cornish coast in England. One evening a violent storm erupts and the next morning a young man has washed ashore on the beach. The sisters manage to get him to their cottage and when he awakens it slowly becomes apparent that the guy is Polish. Now here's where it gets a little odd. Instead of just nursing him back to health and sending him on his way, the women hold on to Andrea (Daniel Brühl). Essentially, instead of adopting a new dog or cat, the pair adopt a young man! What is to become of this? And, who exactly is he and how did he get to Cornwall?So is this film any good? Yes...which isn't surprising considering it stars Dench and Smith--two amazing actresses. Likewise, the music (which makes up a great deal of the film) is lovely. In fact, I have no real complaints and the film is original. Worth seeing.

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 ...

This was a very beautiful movie! I liked the setting in the Cornish fishing village, and they had also managed to get the feeling of the times (1930:s) just right. And all the actors were just excellent! It was also very sad, with the old spinster's hopelessly impossible unrequited passion for the young man... Who has not nursed a secret passion, and saved little mementos of the loved one, at one time or another in our lives..? In fact, I blushed in front of the screen a couple of times, as the old woman's behaviour made me remember embarrassing things I have done myself...Although I think the story would have been still more effective, if the woman had been a little younger. Maybe in her 40:s or 50:s instead of her 70:s. It would have been easier to relate to it then, and feel sorry for her... That is: I _did_ feel sorry for her now as well. It wrung my heart when the young man left with a beautiful woman of his own age - something that _had_ to happen before or later. But an age difference of about 50 years is simply indecent - insane.Or, alternatively, if her love for him had not been sexual at all, but only long repressed denied motherly feelings - as she had never had any children either, as well as no husband... That would have been nicer, I think.

"If music be the language of love, play on"- Very true statement you know.I wasn't expecting to like Ladies in Lavender, but being a lover of both Maggie Smith and Judi Dench, I knew I had to see it. And you know what? I loved it, admittedly it is very slow and perhaps the ending a little abrupt, but essentially it is beautifully-acted, directed and rendered, that I actually found very moving.First of all, I loved how it was filmed. The setting is old fashioned, but it is exquisite to look at as well. Some parts are like looking at a watercolour painting, seeing how picturesque it all was. The scenery was sumptuous and the costumes gorgeous. And the music from Nigel Hess was utterly amazing, some of the melodies played on the violin is close to heart rending. Although the violin can play sinister and devilish pieces like Danse Macabre, it also works bringing to life poignant works like Meditation from Thais and Tchaikovsky's Melody. The music composed I think was one of those elements that made the film so touching, it was extremely beautiful.The direction from Charles Dance, who acted so well in Bleak House, is subtle, and this allows each actor to bring their character and the sophisticated screenplay to life. The story is nimbly told, about the upheaval and yearning when a handsome young man(with a catch-he can't speak English) is found washed up on the beach, and goes into very subtle emotional regions.And the cast is exceptional. Maggie Smith doesn't get as much screen time as Dench, but she gives a very strong performances as always as the voice of reason. Judi Dench is also exceptional in a difficult role as Ursula, and Daniel Bruhl is indeed handsome as the handsome stranger Andrea. The supporting cast were outstanding as well, Natascha McElhone, David Warner and Miriam Margoyles give suitably deft performances and it works for this sort of film.Overall, very beautiful and touching, particularly worth seeing for the acting and the music. 9/10 Bethany Cox