British film "Lady in the Van", 2015, which is an adaptation of the autobiographical play by English playwright Alan Bennett. The film is directed by theater director Nicholas Heitner, artistic director of the National Theatre, who staged The Lady in the Van. In the lead role is the wonderful Maggie Smith. This is such a very English
more
British film "Lady in the Van", 2015, which is an adaptation of the autobiographical play by English playwright Alan Bennett. The film is directed by theater director Nicholas Heitner, artistic director of the National Theatre, who staged The Lady in the Van. In the lead role is the wonderful Maggie Smith. This is such a very English story about how a homeless woman settled in a very decent area in a van and for all the time she was there, no one drove her out, although secretly they dreamed about it, the British are sometimes so constrained that they do not dare to speak out, do not want to seem intolerant. When Alan Bennett bought himself a house in the area, the old lady was already there, first her van stood by the side of the street, and then, when parking there was forbidden, Alan suggested that she put a van in front of her house. She lived there not for three months, as she promised, but for fifteen years. She became a local landmark, which was sometimes considered very peculiar - for example, the church kept air freshener to sprinkle after she confessed. No one knew how she came to life like this, because apparently, she was, as they say, from a decent family, the reason will be found out only after her death. It was evident that she was mentally unstable, it was almost impossible to find a common language with her, but Bennett tolerated her, overcoming his squeamishness, a typical Englishman. However, social services did not abuse the care of her, trying to blame everything on Bennett, who sheltered her. Bennett described all the vicissitudes first in his book, which was later converted into a play. The film is peculiar, but very good.
|