LADIES IN LAVENDER

"What marvellous playing"

Sisters Ursula (Dench) and Janet (Smith) awake one morning to find a young man washed up on the beach near their Cornish home. They immediately call Dr. Mead (Warner) and volunteer to nurse the castaway back to health. Not speaking a word of English, over time they find out that their guest is from Poland, his name is Andrea (Brühl) and he has a real gift for the violin but in the 1930s as the world was on the brink of war, anyone who spoke another language instantly raised suspicion.

Making his directorial debut, acclaimed British actor Charles Dance brings a story of music, compassion and unrequited love to the sliver screen.

From the story by William J. Locke, as well as directing the picture he also wrote the screenplay and served as producer, making the piece a real labour of love and this is reflected on screen. The beautiful Cornish coastline is expertly photographed and the 1930s setting is vividly and authentically brought to life, as Dance and his crew delve into period to produce a story that will touch its target audience, the over 50s.

If you wanted to cast to British actresses over the age of sixty for a period drama who could reflect the conservative times of 1930s you would instantly think of Dame Judy Dench and Dame Maggie Smith. This inspired casting by Dance instantly makes the movie more watchable than it should be as these are two actresses of the highest calibre. Their performances, as you'd expect, are faultless. Dench's Ursula, the naïve spinster who has never known love, is extremely good. She portrays the woman who has never really experienced life superbly, bringing an innocence and jealousy to a character that could have so easily been quite sad and desperate. She makes the idea Ursula having feeling for Andrea not as ridiculous as it so easily could have been. Maggie Smith plays Janet with ease, creating a character that she revels in playing. She is the upper class woman who always knows best but becomes embroiled in Ursula's desperation to keep Andrea with them. It is the chemistry between the two of them that drives the film and makes it all the more watchable.

Talented German actor Daniel Brühl makes his move into English speaking roles as Andrea. This is another standout performance by the up and coming actor and one that should get him even more plaudits. Natascha McElhone is another talented actress that needs to make more movies. She plays Olga Daniloff, the woman who spots Andrea talent with the violin, with great gusto and openness making the character very European compared the extremely British folk of the Cornish town. There is also good support of the irrepressible Miriam Margolyes as housekeeper Dorcas and the very underrated David Warner as Dr. Mead.

Ladies in Lavender with appeal very strongly to its target audience. Its only real problem a lack of backstory for the three main characters, especial Andrea but this does not deter you from the excellent performances that make the film enjoyable.

Cast and crew soundbites

The Remains of the Day

Gosford Park

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2004