Absolute Review: Lesley Manville’s Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is a life synopsis in its purest form

Shachi Chaturvedi| Mumbai

Cast: Lesley Manville, Alba Baptista, Ellen Thomas

Director: Anthony Fabian

Runtime: 1 hr 55 min

Rating: 3.5/5

Synopsis

A widowed cleaning lady falls madly in love with a Christian Dior dress and decides she must have one of her own. She embarks on an adventure to Paris after working to raise the funds to pursue her dream, which will change not only her own outlook but also the future of the House of Dior.

Review

Is this a movie about Mrs Harris going to Paris? Or is it a stab at reality? A kind woman who helps everyone is being hurt in return. But, at last, as everything ends, so does misery.

The film begins by introducing the character of a woman (Mrs Ada Harris) and establishing her as a giver. A woman who does good deeds without expecting anything in return. Mrs Harris is an adult child whose world is shattered several times in her life. When she learns that her husband has died in the call to action, she experiences her first shock. This film conveys a variety of strong messages in its purest and most subtle form.

Starting with how a Christian Dior dress motivates her to fly miles and be happy, to how she keeps throwing things in the river as a symbol of not holding on to things that should be left behind. The film explains every aspect of life… It has the notion of a lucky day, the concept of broken hopes, the idea of a second chance, the theory of love appearing in the most unexpected places, and the ultimate concept of, as SRK once said, “Lekin agar end mein sab kuch theek na ho to woh the end nahi hai doston.. Picture abhi baaqi hai…”

When it comes to star performances, Lesley Manville, who plays Ada Harris, is unquestionably outstanding in the film. It’s amazing how she conveys emotions with just a slight change in her expressions. Her role as the main character must be performed exactly as she has. But kudos to the supporting cast; describing the beauty they all bring to this film would take an entire day and a 1000-word essay. It is impossible to remove even one of these characters and make the film look the same.

Special mention goes to Ellen Thomas who plays Ada’s best friend in the movie. Her character is like that one person in life one can rely on. A friend who is as crazy as a loon but as caring as a mother and Ellen has aced the role with pure grace.

When it comes to technical aspects, the film deserves an 11 out of 10, with an extra point for being authentic and not adding extra edits. Despite the fact that the entire film has good cinematography and well-captured frames and shots, What stands out is a panoramic shot taken with a hand-held camera when Ada visits the section of C. Diors where the dresses are made and stitched. The cameramen have captured the beauty of London and Paris most beautifully.

A film is never complete without a good background score and music, but in this case, It has a fantastic selection of soundtracks. Because Ada is a lady who does not express herself much, it is crucial to have the right music at the right time to convey the tone of the scene to the audience, which this film does admirably.

Even though the entire film is about conveying strong messages in a way that does not hit you hard but conveys the feeling, the last 15-20 minutes of the film are an absolute treasure. Those last few minutes are a life synopsis that contains all of the important details that a person has in a lifetime. In those 15 minutes, you get to see the emotions that Ada always hides. You get to see her rage and boldness, which is a real treat that touches your heart.

Conclusion

This film is not as simple as it appears. While watching the film, one must introspect. It’s a life summary, and everyone will find someone to relate to. This film is a genuine look at life, and if you can see through the details, this is the film for you.