Review of My Old Lady (2014) by Greg W — 24 Jan 2015

Very likable British-French-American comedy-drama written and directed by Israel Horovitz in his feature directorial début. He had previously directed 3 Weeks After Paradise, a 51-minute testimonial from 2002 about his family's experiences following the September 11, 2001, and events surrounding the New York's World Trade Center. I am not sure what to say about that one, and what category belongs to - maybe a corporate "documentary" order!? Back to this one in which we have some of the best cast I could imagine starring Maggie Smith, Kevin Kline, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Dominique Pinon. I really think that the acting alone deserves this movie to receive positive review.

Mathias is a washed out New Yorker, who after three divorces is penniless. After his estranged father's death he inherited an apartment in Paris and he wants to sell it quickly and start a new life back in US. Arriving in Paris, he discovers a refined old woman, Mathilde, living in the apartment with her daughter, Chloé.

Our hero quickly learns that the apartment is a "viager" - an old French system for buying and selling apartments - and that he will not actually get possession of the apartment until Mathilde dies. Disappointment quickly grows when he finds out that he, in addition to that, has to pay the old lady a life annuity of 2400 a month. He contemplates his next step, stuck in Paris, paying rent to the old lady with his father's gold watch...

Insignificant director with tolerable script in enchanting environment and excellent acting - this pretty much summarize the whole movie.