People over the age of fifty are seldom the focus of a film narrative in mainstream films. Usually they are the naiive or out of touch parents of the protagonist, staunch authoritarians or jaded cranky people who are just there to laugh because they’re old. In more recent years, this has started to change with the success of films such as The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel which focussed on people of retirement age on a life-changing journey to India. This was pretty popular at the box office and not just on the targeted demographic of older audiences. Even younger people had fun watching older people in a more honest light.
My Old Lady has seemingly drifted by so there were no expectations in viewing. By the end, you are completely gripped by it. The look of the film was brilliant. The cinematography, especially when taking in the various beauty spots of Paris, was stunning. The atmosphere is clear and the shots draw you into the captivating beauty of the surroundings our characters interact within. It’s hard to believe that anyone would want to leave such surroundings. The cinematography continued to work wonders during certain interactions between the characters. There were moments where the film felt a bit too much like watching a play (sidenote: this film was based on a play of the same name) which did occasionally get off putting however the cinematography adapted well. There were some really interesting shots that made the film very unique.
The characters are played spectacularly by the cast. Kevin Kline & Kristen Scott Thomas are excellent as waring Mathias and Chloe but the one person who steals the show is Maggie Smith. Her turn as the witty and strong-willed Mathilde is done so well you would swear that the role was written for her. It demonstrates that Maggie Smith is truly like a fine wine - age doesn’t hinder her quality as an actress. In fact, it makes her finer and more watchable.
My Old Lady is a film highly recommended for those who seek to view stories with a more mature and enjoyable tone.