Thank you BBC and TriStar for providing a moment of sanity in the current deluge of noisy, incendiary, absurd plot movies that seem to draw the crowds (and the money) today. THE LADY IN THE VAN is a little jewel of a film, written by brilliant playwright Alan Bennett (Beyond the Fringe, The Madness of King George, The History Boys, etc) – a memoir of sorts, directed by Nicholas Hytner (The History Boys, The Crucible, The Madness of King George, etc), and starring the incomparable Maggie Smith in a role unlike her usual grand dame roles and Alex Jennings in a dual role of Alan Bennett as writer and as the one who experiences life, providing the source of Bennett's writings and plays. The entire cast is superb – especially the tiny cameos by Jim Broadbent, Dominic Cooper, Cecilia Noble, Deborah Findlay, Roger Allam, Clare Hammond, Gwen Taylor, Frances de la Tour and on and on.
The story is summarized here: THE LADY IN THE VAN tells the true story of Alan Bennett's strained friendship with Miss Mary Shepherd (Maggie Smite), an eccentric homeless woman whom Bennett Alex Jennings) befriended in the 1970s before allowing her temporarily to park her Bedford van in the driveway of his Camden home. She stayed there for 15 years. As the story develops Bennett learns that Miss Shepherd is really Margaret Fairchild (died 1989), a former gifted pupil of the pianist Alfred Cortot. She had played Chopin in a promenade concert, tried to become a nun, was committed to an institution by her brother, escaped, had an accident when her van was hit by a motorcyclist for which she believed herself to blame, and thereafter lived in fear of arrest.
Not only is the story funny and touching, it also makes a huge statement about our disregard for the homeless, the manner in which the Catholic church copes with its own problems, and the extraordinary love that develops between Mary and Alan. The music that plays such a significant role is Franz Schubert's Impromptu No. 3 in G-Flat Major, Op.90, D 899 and Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op.11: II. Romanze – Larghetto and III. Rondo - Vivace beautifully played by Clare Hammond - all lovingly embraced and incorporated by the musical score of George Fenton (who also conducts the BBC Concert Orchestra in the film).
This illuminating and entertaining film will provide or restore belief in films as a means of significant statement and joy. Highly Recommended.
The story is summarized here: THE LADY IN THE VAN tells the true story of Alan Bennett's strained friendship with Miss Mary Shepherd (Maggie Smite), an eccentric homeless woman whom Bennett Alex Jennings) befriended in the 1970s before allowing her temporarily to park her Bedford van in the driveway of his Camden home. She stayed there for 15 years. As the story develops Bennett learns that Miss Shepherd is really Margaret Fairchild (died 1989), a former gifted pupil of the pianist Alfred Cortot. She had played Chopin in a promenade concert, tried to become a nun, was committed to an institution by her brother, escaped, had an accident when her van was hit by a motorcyclist for which she believed herself to blame, and thereafter lived in fear of arrest.
Not only is the story funny and touching, it also makes a huge statement about our disregard for the homeless, the manner in which the Catholic church copes with its own problems, and the extraordinary love that develops between Mary and Alan. The music that plays such a significant role is Franz Schubert's Impromptu No. 3 in G-Flat Major, Op.90, D 899 and Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op.11: II. Romanze – Larghetto and III. Rondo - Vivace beautifully played by Clare Hammond - all lovingly embraced and incorporated by the musical score of George Fenton (who also conducts the BBC Concert Orchestra in the film).
This illuminating and entertaining film will provide or restore belief in films as a means of significant statement and joy. Highly Recommended.