The Lady in the Van

source: The Lady in the Van

"The Lady in the Van" is one comedy drama that's fun and it entertains in a touching emotional way for the fact that it develops friendship and love in a strange and unexpected way it's really thru difference! Actually this is based on a true story set in England, near London. It involves Miss Shepherd(the top notch and in form Maggie Smith)who's a woman that's past her prime she's now of unknown origin who now and later for an extended stay parks her van in Alan Bennett's(Alex Jennings)driveway and as mentioned lives in that spot a long time in fact up to 15 years! The friendship and meeting has it's growing pains that slowly but surely changes the lives of both forever. The past of both central characters are revealed and the movie takes a path of a rare and touching picture of happiness at being at peace with fate and life before the end. Overall "The Lady in the Van" is one film to enjoy as it makes you want to care about life and people even though if they or the situation seem uncertain and different.

Somewhat of an acquired taste this film, because it is not without its many weaknesses. The film focuses on Alan Bennett (here played as two characters – himself, and himself the writer) and his interactions with an elderly woman he allowed to live out of a van she parked on his driveway. The nature of the film means it is very Bennett in its tone, and it has an enjoyable buttoned-up feeling to it in the most part. That said it isn't quite as engaging as it really should be. The story doesn't connect up as well as the narration suggests, and it does frequently feel like it is being drawn out more than it can bare – in particular the resolutions, which go on much too long and lose the charm they needed. The performances more or less carry the film though. Jennings does a great impression of Bennett, but more than that he does give strong performances in both positions. He was the better character, but Smith is great as the lady of the title. She has a lot of energy and well observed presence and humor throughout. I think the thing that shows how good the two leads are, is that we can believe why the other allows the other to be in their lives and be that way. The downside of this is that the two performances are better than the film itself is; so at times they do drive it forward by force of presence, but they cannot do it all – and when performances takes a step back, the film suffers.

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 leading actress was getting a lot of attention since Harry Potter, especially in Downton Abbey, and much more so by critics, and during awards season, for this film, directed by Nicholas Hytner (The Madness of King George, The Crucible, The History Boys). Based on the true story, it is about the strained friendship between famous English playwright, screenwriter actor and author Alan Bennett (Alex Jennings), and elderly eccentric homeless woman Miss Shepherd (BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated Dame Maggie Smith). Bennett befriended Miss Shepherd in the 1970s, he allowed her to park her Bedford van in his Camden home driveway temporarily, the temporary arrangement turned into fifteen years. Over time Bennett found out that Miss Shepherd is in fact Margaret Fairchild, she was formerly a gifted pupil of pianist Alfred Cortot, she played the music of Frédéric Chopin in a promenade concert, tried to become a nun, and she was committed by her brother to an institution after an accident when a motorcyclist hit her van, she blamed herself for it and feared being arrested. Also starring Jim Broadbent as Underwood, Vicious's Frances de la Tour as Mrs Vaughan Williams, Roger Allam as Rufus, Dominic Cooper as Actor, James Corden as Market Trader, Stephen Campbell Moore as Doctor at Old Peoples Home, Samuel Anderson as Jehovah's Witnesses, Russell Tovey as Young Man with Earring, Marion Bailey as Housekeeper at Convent, Richard Griffiths as Sam Perry and The World Is Not Enough's David Calder as Leo Fairchild. Smith is both funny and profound as the peculiar but also vulnerable old lady, Jennings does a great impression of the well-known writer, you could argue there is not much of a story at all, Smith is the big reason, to me it was a series of funny bickering and sweet interactions, but is a nice simple quirky comedy drama. Worth watching!

"The Lady in the Van" I added this movie to my watch-list months ago, as soon as I saw the premise and Maggie's name in it's description. Just watched it. And it's EXACTLY what I expected it to be. :) The plot: (without spoilers) It's a poignant portrayal of a homeless woman who finds shelter when a lonely writer out of his timidness (don't confuse it with politeness, although being England, timid is good, too) lets her park her van in his driveway. Their bond, which was supposed to end within a few months, lasts almost 15 years. The review: (without spoilers) From the starting, you'll be hooked to the character of Maggie Smith, thanks to her glorious acting and the delightful character, Mary/Margaret/Miss Sheperd, she brings life to. Alex Jennings, who plays Alan, the man who lets her stay in her driveway, is quite a delightful actor himself. I don't think I've seen him in any other flicks. Yet. Regardless to say, the acting is superb. The plot is adorable and heartbreaking, both at the same time. It's a perfect little drama movie with loads of charming humor, mainly delivered by Maggie. Yes, it gets a bit, as the other reviewers have put it, "dull" in the second half, but I think it's perfectly fine, because going in halfway, I expected nothing else. By the time it ended, there was a sense of contentedness in my heart. Also, it had stopped raining, not that THAT matters! :P In short, this movie is a perfect, "bundle of joy". I give it: 7.5/10 Also, I have noticed most of the British flicks go unnoticed, here on IMDb. I really wonder why. I have been tracking this one here for months and still it has only 10K or so votes and a lower rating than it deserves. Anyway, I hope this review will attract more viewers? I don't know, but one CAN hope. That's it for now folks! :)

The film begins with our protagonist Miss Shepherd (Smith) driving through the English countryside hoping to avoid a policeman. There is blood splattered against her cracked windshield and a flustered look on Shepherd's face. We then meet our narrator Alan Bennett (Jennings) a playwright who has just moved to the quiet middle-class neighborhood of Camden. He is of two minds; one who writes fastidiously while the other takes care of the daily functions of his life. The doppelgangers argue about the trajectory of his work, both deciding he lacks the excitement of Hemingway and the complexities of Proust. Then Miss Shepherd moves into the neighborhood, setting her dilapidated van along the street to the horror of Camden's well-to-do residents. Dame Maggie Smith has had a long and illustrious career to be sure. A consistently tremendous force on the stage and screen, Smith has been in show-business since the 1950's and not once has she faltered with an abysmal performance. The Lady in the Van is certainly no exception. She takes on the role she first popularized on the stage play with gusto relishing in the tiniest little moments that breathe life into Shepherd. So popular was her portrayal on stage that she was nominated for Best Actress at the Olivier Awards and this year she was similarly nominated for a Golden Globe. Alas The Lady in the Van is not simply about Shepherd and her cantankerous run-ins with neighbors, social workers and Alan. Alan's struggle to come to terms with his sickly mother, his circumspect sexuality and his writing, at one point putting on a monologue on London's West End which goes badly. Alex Jennings tries hard to make his duel role stick but his periodic subplots feel airy, lack conflict and pad time in between Smith's charming homeless-woman stunts and his own droll voice-over narration. He's not a real character or at least one we really care about. He's simply the vessel in which the story carries itself while Smith is the showcase. While it's easy to see how this film's source material is stage- driven, director Nicholas Hytner does a fine job elevating the story in a more cinematic way. He used his eye to similar aplomb in The Madness of King George (1994) which delved into similar themes albeit in a much grander way. We get a picturesque view of springtime Camden with all the trappings of upper-middle class opulence. In such an environment, Shepherds garish van sticks out like a sore thumb jabbing at the neighbors sensibilities. Despite the main conflict surrounding what the neighborhood should to with their local reprobate, none of them are treated as outright monsters. The film takes place within a 15-year time span thus what eventually becomes a nuisance morphs into a local mainstay. There's one piece of The Lady in the Van puzzle that must be addressed and that is the outstanding score by five time Oscar nominee George Fenton. His original music is grand and bittersweet which perfectly matches the emotional core of the film. He borrows some insightful leitmotifs from Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky while also presenting some specific pieces by Schubert and Chopin. One particular piece; an impromptu by Schubert does such a good job portraying the sadness and sense of guilt of Miss Shepherd, that it ranks up there with the Chopin ballad scene in The Pianist (2002) as best example of classical music translating character emotion. Yet in spite of some stellar music, one showstopping performance on the part of Maggie Smith and a kindly message about transience, The Lady in the Van can't help but feel almost too sweet. It's a movie that will put a warm smile on your face and keep it there but it won't stick with you long after you've left the theater. That's not altogether a bad thing though; if you're craving for some wholesome entertainment sure to warm your heart, The Lady in the Van is certainly worth your time.

The Lady in the Van is exactly as the title implies; an old woman living alone in a van. It may sound like a thin premise for a full length move, but, trust me, it isn't. Maggie Smith arrives in town and plants herself in front of a playwrights house, and, after problems with the local authorities, the van winds up in his driveway for many years. This is based on a true story and it is a compelling one about loneliness, isolation, expectations, and religion(Roman Catholic). Smith deserved the Academy Award for her noble and unmatched performance. Brie Larson was fine in "Room" but she is not on the same level as Maggie Smith. Mary Shepherd(Smith) is the woman with the van, and Alan Bennett is the writer Alex Jennings who allows Mary to live in his driveway and occasionally use his bathroom. He slowly unravels her life story, which include a stay at a convent in order to become a nun and a promising career as a concert pianist. Her tale is not a happy one, but Smith will hold your attention for the entire film. Do not miss The Lady in the Van, one of the ten best movies of 2015.

"Lady in the Van" from 2015 is the "mostly" true story of playwright Alan Bennett's relationship with a woman who lived in various vans parked in his driveway for fifteen years. Bennett here is played by Alex Jennings, and the lady, Miss Shepherd, Maggie Smith. Miss Shepherd, who smells awful from not bathing, lives in a crowded van and moves it from place to place, staying until she's thrown out or until she hears music. When she's told to move or do something else, she yells, as only Maggie Smith can do, "I'm a sick woman! Dying possibly!" Alan finds it impossible to break from her, though he tries. She prays very fervently and one time tells him that she spoke to the Virgin Mary at the post office. When he asks if the van is insured, she says she doesn't need it, she's insured in heaven. "So what happens if you have an accident?" Alan asks. "Who pays? The Pope?" Alan is gay, though his friends are always trying to fix him up with a woman. One day Miss Shepherd says, "All those people who come and go in the dark, I know who they are." "Oh, Jesus," he says under his breath. "They're Communists!" she hisses. "Otherwise they wouldn't come and go in the dark." Miss Shepherd is a woman of mystery - Alan finally learns that she studied piano, speaks fluent French, and was a nun. She also at times is seen going to someone's house in the dead of night. A man opens the door and comes outside. And someone stops by her van from time to time, and she gives him money. In the end, we learn who these people are, her story of the convent, the history of her piano-playing, why she prays all the time, and who the men are. Alex Jennings is perfect as Bennett (who appears at the end of the movie). He has his voice down pat, and in the film, there are two Alans - the writer Alan and the observer Alan, who talk with one another throughout the film. It's Alan who lives in the real world who encourages the writer Alan to be helpful to Miss Shepherd. I am so privileged to have seen Maggie Smith in "Lettice and Lovage," one of my greatest evenings in the theater, where I laughed until I cried. At the end of that play, she gets on the phone and does a serious, touching monologue. She does the same here. Instead of the crazy homeless lady with the plastic bags we see and laugh at and wonder about during the play, she does a monologue that tells us who she is, and about her pain, heartbreak, and disappointments. "Why did you choose to be homeless?" Alan asks. "I didn't choose," she insists. "It was chosen for me." A wonderful film about an uptight, cold man and a disturbed religious bag lady - you won't soon forget it.

To say that a certain performer could read the phone book and command attention has become a total cliché. It's used so much that when it is warranted, people roll their eyes because they've heard it so much. But for certain actors, it is true. They do command attention, not just because they are scene stealers or have a way delivering a sarcastic line or even because you've come to expect brilliance from them even in the lamest of works. It is in their soul, a gift from God, and a shining example from God that excellence does exist in the human being. Maybe not perfection, but in their talent, something so raw and beautiful that you feel that you are in love with them without even knowing them. That is the case with Maggie Smith, an artist I have loved since my teen years, seeing her on screen in the original release of "Murder By Death". That 40 year old film has set my screen viewing on a love affair with the dry, witty, passionate and inwardly beautiful characters that she has played. And this, rumored to possibly be her final film, is her at her absolute most passionately brilliant characterization of all of those qualities. Miss Shepherd isn't someone you'd want outside your home: apparently smelly, rude, cantankerous and manipulative. Harassed on the street, blackmailed, bugged to no end by social services, she becomes slowly both a rose and a thorn to writer Alan Bennett. His observing of her in all of her moods makes her come to life beyond those qualities. This is not the first time that Dame Maggie has played not so glamorous characters or more staid, non- sarcastic ones. She could be any old bag lady you'd see on the street, supplying life observations to those who care to listen. She is real. She isn't acting. She is being. And thus, she is beautiful. And in deed, if this is her last film, she gets the most appropriate of endings.