My Old Lady (Kevin Kline)

(Amazon UK link)

I had seen several recommendations for the DVD ‘My Old Lady’ on Amazon. Since Maggie Smith was listed as one of the main characters in it, and reviews were mostly positive, I added it to my wishlist and was given it for my recent birthday. Last night, we decided to watch it. We didn’t know what to expect, and liked it very much. 

Apparently the film is based on a play, and was directed by the play’s author who was in his mid seventies at the time. We thought he did an excellent job. There are just three main characters, and a handful of others who stand out; that’s typical of a stage production, and it works very well as a film.

The whole story is set in Paris, filmed on location. But one of the main characters is an American: Mathias (Kevin Kline) is a man in his sixties who has learned from a lawyer that he has inherited his father’s house. He has been having some financial problems, and has spent his last money on his flight.  

We quickly learn that Mathias didn’t have a good relationship with his father, and that he hasn’t inherited any money from him - that was all given to charity. However, he assumes he can sell the house in Paris which is reputed to be worth quite a lot due to its size and location.

What he doesn’t expect is that even this house comes with a sting in the tail: it was bought inexpensively under a French system known as ‘viager’. That meant that the house was occupied by an elderly lady called Mme Girard (Maggie Smith), the former owner of the house, and she would continue to live there until she died. Worse, Mathias must continue to make payments to her every month for as long as she lives.

He then discovers that Mme Girard’s daughter Chloe (Kristin Scott Thomas) also lives there, and she is very antagonistic to him…

There’s a lot in the film, which has some beautiful shots of Paris, some acerbic, perfectly timed humour (mostly from Maggie Smith’s character) and some deeply poignant reminiscences of childhood. Both Mathias and Chloe are lonely people, and while their lives have been very different, they discover that they have much in common.

The three main characters are so believable that I felt entirely drawn into the story. The supporting cast are realistic too, and it felt at times as if I knew the cast. Their screen chemistry and acting is impeccable. Maggie Smith (who was 80 when this film was made) plays a woman of 92 as well as she has all her many other superb roles over the year. 

The overall plot is perhaps a bit predictable, but that doesn’t much matter; it’s a character study as much as anything, a story about discoveries, and family loyalties, and the effects of infidelity. We were mesmerised. I had expected it to be more amusing than it turned out to be, based on the front cover: instead the humorous moments nicely balanced the deeper, more heart-wrenching sections of the film.

All in all, we liked it very much and were glad we watched it. The rating is 12A in the UK, PG-13 in the US. It’s not a film that would be of any interest to children - or teenagers, for that matter, as the main characters are in their sixties. But I’m surprised the censors didn’t rate it PG as there are no scenes of intimacy or nudity, almost no bad language, and no violence. 

The only ‘extra’ on this DVD is an interview with the author of the original play, who directed the film; it’s not too long and was very interesting.

Definitely recommended.

  Review copyright 2024 Sue's DVD Reviews