Israel Horowitz wrote the play, adapted the play for the screen an directed this little drama MY OLD LADY. It works on some levels: after a rather disconcertingly angry beginning it settles into a somewhat sanguine love story. The project is salvages by the contributions of the three lead actors without whose talent this piece may have become a bore.
An American inherits an apartment in Paris that comes with an unexpected resident. That is barebones for the story. A more extended synopsis: 'When Mathias Gold (Kevin Kline) arrives at the sumptuous Parisian apartment he inherited from his distant but wealthy and recently deceased father, he's surprised that the property comes with two stubborn live-in tenants who are not required to leave according to an ancient French real estate law – explained amply as the case of the viager. Unable to sell the place, Mathias moves in with the feisty 92 year old Englishwoman, Mathilde Gerard (Dame Maggie Smith), and her middle aged daughter, Chloé (Kristin Scott Thomas). But as Mathias and Chloé draw increasingly closer, Mathilde unveils a complex labyrinth of secrets that unites the trio in unexpected ways. The story draws on the old 'kept mistress' theme – Mathias' married father and Mathilda were lovers while Mathilde was married and the passage of ownership of the apartment is at times as confusing as the paternity of both Mathias and Chloé.
The three main actors manage to pull this off and are aided by some fine cameos by Dominique Pinon and Noémie Lvovsky. Sophie Touitou plays the casual opera singer along the Seine (is this her voice or a voice over?) singing Mozart and dueting with Kline in 'La ci darem la mano' from 'Don Giovanni.' This adds a bit of class to the film.
Once the film decides it is not a n angry comedy but a quasi-serious love story the film becomes far more interesting. Not a great film, but it is always a pleasure seeing Smith, Kline and Thomas in action. Grady Harp, February 15
An American inherits an apartment in Paris that comes with an unexpected resident. That is barebones for the story. A more extended synopsis: 'When Mathias Gold (Kevin Kline) arrives at the sumptuous Parisian apartment he inherited from his distant but wealthy and recently deceased father, he's surprised that the property comes with two stubborn live-in tenants who are not required to leave according to an ancient French real estate law – explained amply as the case of the viager. Unable to sell the place, Mathias moves in with the feisty 92 year old Englishwoman, Mathilde Gerard (Dame Maggie Smith), and her middle aged daughter, Chloé (Kristin Scott Thomas). But as Mathias and Chloé draw increasingly closer, Mathilde unveils a complex labyrinth of secrets that unites the trio in unexpected ways. The story draws on the old 'kept mistress' theme – Mathias' married father and Mathilda were lovers while Mathilde was married and the passage of ownership of the apartment is at times as confusing as the paternity of both Mathias and Chloé.
The three main actors manage to pull this off and are aided by some fine cameos by Dominique Pinon and Noémie Lvovsky. Sophie Touitou plays the casual opera singer along the Seine (is this her voice or a voice over?) singing Mozart and dueting with Kline in 'La ci darem la mano' from 'Don Giovanni.' This adds a bit of class to the film.
Once the film decides it is not a n angry comedy but a quasi-serious love story the film becomes far more interesting. Not a great film, but it is always a pleasure seeing Smith, Kline and Thomas in action. Grady Harp, February 15