Ladies in Lavender. (2004)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Charles Dance

Writers:

William J. Locke (short story)
Charles Dance (written by)

Release Date:

12 November 2004 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Music | Romance

Tagline:

The story of two sisters who saved a stranger, and the stranger who stole their hearts.

Plot:

Two sisters befriend a mysterious foreigner who washes up on the beach of their 1930's Cornish seaside village.

Plot Keywords:

Beach | 1930s | Violinist | Village | Storm

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Judi Dench	...	Ursula
Maggie Smith	...	Janet
Daniel Brühl	...	Andrea
Freddie Jones	...	Jan Pendered
Gregor Henderson-Begg	...	Luke Pendered
Miriam Margolyes	...	Dorcas
David Warner	...	Dr. Francis Mead
Clive Russell	...	Adam Penruddocke
Richard Pears	...	Barry
Natascha McElhone	...	Olga Daniloff
Iain Marshall	...	Fisherman (as Ian Marshall)
Toby Jones	...	Hedley
Trevor Ray	...	Very Old Man 1
John Boswall	...	Very Old Man 2
Joanna Dickens	...	Mrs. Pendered

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.

Runtime:

104 min | Australia:99 min | Australia:103 min (theatrical version) | Argentina:103 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | German | Polish | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Germany:o.Al. | Mexico:B | France:U | Brazil:Livre | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Argentina:13 | Sweden:Btl | Finland:K-7 | South Korea:All | Singapore:PG | Australia:M | Ireland:PG | Spain:T | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 | New Zealand:M

Filming Locations:

Cadgwith, Cornwall, England, UK

Company:

UK Film Council

Trivia:

Krzysztof Siwczyk was considered for the role of Andrea when director Charles Dance saw him in a re-run of Wojaczek. Sadly, he then attended a Q&A session and deemed him to have grown up too much since the film.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Cattle crossing the road have ear tags not used in 1936 England.

Quotes:

Ursula Widdington: [Referring to the whole fish that Janet has cooked] Don't you think they look a bit sad?
Janet Widdington: Not at all

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Best Man (2005)

Soundtrack:

Roses of Picardy

Maggie Smith is the understated star

This film bursts into life in a few electrifying scenes - but these scenes are perhaps muted by the general leisurely air of the whole.

What can be said is that this film belongs to Maggie Smith: although Judi Dench has the lovelorn role of the smitten sister, it is Dame Maggie who has the wider variety of emotions, the presence, and the charisma which gives the film the energy it needs to involve the viewer. A case in point is the scene where Dame Judi has her point of emotional release - and Dame Maggie tops it with just the slightest nuance of phrase. Indeed, hers is a performance of subtlety and delicacy, so understated and insightful, that it recalls the outstanding work that she did in "The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne". If it was up to me, Dame Maggie would be right up there in contention for the Oscar and BAFTA.

She is, of course, perfectly paired with Dame Judi, who creates a portrayal of both pathos and charm. There is such rapport between the two that it wipes away memories of the caricatures of "Tea With Mussolini" and replaces it with genuine truth and humanity. The two dames are underscored by the comic bluster of Miriam Margolyes and the suspicious lusting of David Warner.

This is a film of emotion and elegance. If it lacks narrative drive and dynamic then it is more than made up for by the space created for the talents of the actors. It is a film which lives on in the memory - and for that we mainly have to thank the performance of Maggie Smith.