Review of Mrs Palfrey at The Claremont (2005) by Stephen M — 23 Mar 2008
I have just seen this film with my beloved and I have immediately put it in my favourites list.
It's this sweet, quiet, artistic little movie that (apparently) just came and went - and what a shame! Because Lady Olivier is one of the very best that there is (and I doubt anyone could point at one of her performances in anything and say she had done a bad job) and Mrs Palfrey is a wonderful character for her to get to play. Interesting, funny, smart, independant... it's what an actor should look for in a role!
Then there is this man... this Rupert Friend... what a find! It's immediately clear that he is a looker; but his quiet intensity as an actor, his natural charm, his open ness to being vulnerable and real make it clear he is an actor we will hear from again.
And then he sings.
Lord, that's when you just have to surrender.
The interesting thing about Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont is that it begins with a quirkiness that makes you chuckle at her folly in coming to this residential hotel with all these oddball characters like an episode of Fawlty Towers; and then she meets Ludovic and the craziness is balanced out by a very gentle and tender reality in the friendship formed by the two.
Not a false moment, not a boring moment; much pathos and poetry and beautiful camera angles and artistic use of colour, light and movement by the director, Dan Ireland.
I can, deeply, recommend watching this film while holding hands with a loved one.
This review of Mrs Palfrey at The Claremont (2005) was written by Stephen M on 23 Mar 2008.
Mrs Palfrey at The Claremont has generally received positive reviews.
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