This delightfully entertaining film directed by Dustin Hoffman is the story about a group of senior performers – mainly Opera singers – living in a retirement home. Of course each character is set in their ways and a bit of a diva to their memories that only get complicated with the arrival of a newcomer, Jean Horton (Maggie Smith) the greatest opera singer of her day. But Jean was also something else….she was the greatest love of Reginald’s life (Tom Courtenay) and he wasn’t
expecting her arrival today as he had planned to live miserable, alone, but in peace.
This is especially poignant as its lovely to see a man of that age still be in love with an old woman when another American film might cast a story with a young woman love. But these folks are British afterall, and their men adore their old ladies, wrinkles and all. Botox is not a usual option as the lines of life are what their men fall
in love with. The history. The memories.
One of the other characters refers to Smith’s character of Jean as “larger than life. Twice as terrifying” but they’ve misinterpreted Maggie Smith for that other role she
plays in Downton Abbey. Instead, here, she’s a woman realizing life is short and the past in past. And besides, she’s just left her home- the only home she’s ever known and didn’t expect to be here. If you loved last year’s charming film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel you’ll love this one. ♔ ♕ ♚1/2