I went to see this film at BUFS this past week (Brock University Film Series) in Niagara, Canada. I had been really looking forward to it purely because of Maggie Smith. She did not disappoint but Kristin Scott Thomas did. Kevin Kline was also good but what really bugged me was I could tell right away it was a play turned into a film. I'm not a huge fan of plays made into films because there is too much dialogue and it takes place on one or two stages.

The opera singer on the banks of the Seine and the multiple shots of Notre Dame Cathedral were also irritating although I did enjoy Kevin singing along with her at the end.

It amazes me how selfish people can be ably illustrated by Maggie Smith's character and Kevin Kline's father in the film. Their actions screw up their children and spouses. However, even though the film tackled that topic very well indeed, I thought the happy ending was just not believable even if it was welcome.

It was set up as a comedy but it's really a very dark comedy and one that kept me looking at my watch.

25 November 2014 Fiona's Second Film of Choice at The Plaza Dorchester Tonight - My Old Lady. I thought this was going to be a comedy, but in reality the best mildly funny scenes were all included in the trailer. Having said that, this was a very touching film about relationships and dysfunctional families and a very strange set of French Laws. In a nutshell, Mathias Gold, played by Kevin Kline, inherits an apartment in France from his late father. Spending his last dime to travel to Paris he discovers to his dismay that the apartment comes with a tenant Mathilde Girard (Maggie Smith) who is allowed to stay there until her death, and to compound things he has to pay rent to her. Determined to find a way to sell the apartment and make some money Mathias tries everything he can to achieve his goal. As the story progresses we meet Chloe who is Mathilde's daughter and has issues of her own. Although slow in places this charming film winds it's way through the streets of Paris much as the seine flows past Notre Dame and once again having watched a film set in France I find myself wanting to go and visit once again.