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I found myself at a loose end today and rather than watch a tense thriller or block-busting
epic I decided to go for something altogether more sweet natured.
I made a cup of tea and put on a film which I'd missed in the cinema a couple of years
ago - The Lady in the Van. It's based on the experiences of Yorkshire
playwright and wit Alan Bennett and, according to the opening credits, is *mostly* true...
Maggie Smith plays Miss Shephard, a Blitz ambulance driver and former nun who somehow
comes to live in a van on the drive of Alan Bennett's London home. You know, a perfectly
normal occurrence for anyone who's outwardly nice but too timid to say no.
Like most of his works this is a gently comic character study; in this case of Miss Shephard,
of himself, and of his Camden neighbours.
[Would you like me to make you a cup of coffee?]
[No! No I don't want you to go to all that trouble, I'll just have half a cup.]
The story unfolds and grows in a typically theatrical way.
The film's directed by Nicholas Hytner, and is his third collaboration with Bennett, the
first was The Madness of King George, the second The History Boys.
And in tone, tempo, and temperament this is very similar; needless to say if you've seen
either and enjoyed them then this will please you too.
However, if you haven't seen them - then if you like your comedy kindly and your endings
heart-warming then you'll enjoy this; otherwise you might find it a bit boring.
[What are you doing?] [I - I - I thought you might be ill or dead!]
[Dead? Me!? You'll know when I'm dead!] [I'm sorry]