Product Description Mrs. Palfrey, recently widowed after a long happy marriage, moves into a London residential hotel more lively and elegant on line than in fact. She determines to make the best of it among an odd assortment of people, and she particularly hopes her grandson, a London resident, will visit. When she slips on a walk and is aided by a penniless young writer, she invites him to dine at the Claremont and plays along when her dining mates assume he's her grandson. A friendship develops giving her a companion with whom she can talk about memories and poetry and giving him ideas and support for his writing. But what of her actual family? How it plays out is the movie's story. Review BY ROGER EBERT You may think there is no hotel in London like the Claremont, where Mrs. Palfrey becomes a lodger. No hotel where respectable gentlefolk can live by the month and have their breakfasts and dinners served to them in a dining room where good manners prevail. No hotel where the bellman is an aged ruin who nevertheless barks commands at the desk clerk. No hotel where the elevator is a brass cage that rises and falls majestically and discharges its passengers from behind ornate sliding doors. But here and there such relics survive. A very few of my readers will have stayed at the Eyrie Mansion on Jermyn Street when it was run by Henry and Doddy Togna, and they will nod in recognition, although the mansion, to be sure, had no dining room. They will remember Bob the hall porter, who drove Henry crazy by getting drunk every eighth day ("If Bob got drunk every seventh day, on a regular schedule like, we could plan for it"). Mrs. Palfrey (Joan Plowright) books into the Claremont almost blindly. She is in flight from life with her grown daughter in Scotland, and wants to be independent. She is a stoic. Shown her room (twin beds of different heights, a desk, a mirror, a straight chair and an arm chair), she says, "Oh, dear!" Learning from the aged ruin that the bathroom is down the hall and the early bird gets the hot water, she cannot even manage an "oh, dear!" In the dining room, she meets the regulars, particularly the brisk Mrs. Arbuthnot (Anna Massey), who tells the others to shut up when they require such coaching. There is also dear Mr. Osborne (Robert Lang), who asks her to a "do" at the Mason's Hall. Mrs. Palfrey hopes to spend time with her grandson Desmond, who works in the City, but he is an ingrate who never returns her calls. Then one day, while returning from the branch library with a copy of Lady Chatterley's Lover for Mrs. Arbuthnot, she stumbles on the sidewalk and is rescued by a nice young man named Ludovic (Rupert Friend). He invites her into the borrowed basement flat when he lives, serves her tea, rubs disinfectant on her bruise and explains he is a writer who supports himself as a street musician. Ludovic is too good to be true, really. Too kind, too gentle, too patient with a lady 60 years his senior. But "Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont" is the kind of movie where nice people turn up, and soon Ludovic is doing Mrs. Palfrey a favor. She is embarrassed that everyone in the dining room wonders why her grandson has never appeared at dinner, and so she asks Ludovic to pretend to be Desmond, and he agrees. Just as teenagers enjoy escapist movies, so do the elderly. They simply prefer a gentler pace. What is touching about "Mrs. Palfrey" is that she is allowed to be elderly, and not turned into a hip-hop granny. This movie is based on a novel by Elizabeth Taylor (the novelist, not the actress), and a screenplay by Ruth Sacks, herself in her 80s. Incredibly, it represents the biggest screen role that the great Joan Plowright (herself 77) has ever had, and it's little surprise she has won the AARP award as actress of the year. Among the regulars in the Claremont dining room, there is that minute scrutiny inmates of such establishments always carry out, because of boredom, jealousy, or simple curiosity. All I really miss are complaints about the food. I recall my aunt Mary O'Neill sadly surveying her dinner at a retirement home and complaining: "How am I expected to eat this, Rog? Sliced chicken, mashed potatoes and cauliflower. It's all white, honey! It needs carrots." "Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont" has a parabola that is not startling. Mrs. Palfrey will undergo some disappointments and surprises, and Ludovic will learn a life lesson or two, and we accept all that because it comes with the territory. The movie is a delight, in way --ROGER EBERT May 5-2006The tale of an unlikely friendship between an elderly widow and a young writer, "Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont" is an endearing, deceptively simple story. Like helmer Dan Ireland's previous (and very different) films, "Mrs. Palfrey" excels at presenting a relationship unfurling. Pic's debt to "Harold and Maude" is clear -- one character, eyeing the friendship, even mentions that classic comedy by name -- but this is a far gentler film, a low-key drama with comedic undertones that will appeal to older auds, arthouse patrons, and Joan Plowright fans. When Mrs. Palfrey (Plowright) arrives at London's Claremont Hotel (sporting, in a delicious homage, Celia Johnson's hat from "Brief Encounter"), she announces under her breath, "I had expected something quite different." In fact, her stay at the senior-oriented residence hotel is nothing like she anticipated. Having relocated from Scotland to be near her 26-year-old grandson Desmond (Lorcan O'Toole), Mrs. Palfrey soon faces a host of questions from well-meaning but nosy fellow residents. Where is Desmond, wonders Mrs. Arbuthnot (Anna Massey), among others, and when will he be coming to visit? But Desmond fails to return Mrs. Palfrey's many calls. Just as she is about to retreat into loneliness, she stumbles and falls outside the flat of aspiring scribe Ludovic "Ludo" Meyer (Rupert Friend). Meyer treats her wounds, and a friendship begins. In their ensuing conversations, it's clear that each fills a void for the other, and that these two lonely souls have much more in common that meets the eye. Ludo even agrees to pass himself off as Mrs. Palfrey's grandson during a visit to the Claremont. Some situational comedy follows, especially when the real Desmond finally shows up and Mrs. Palfrey tries to pass him off as her accountant. But pic's best moments are those in which the friendship of Mrs. Palfrey and Ludo grows into a deep bond. One scene in particular, in which Ludo serenades her with an impromptu version of "For All We Know," is beautifully directed. Mrs. Palfrey inadvertently plays matchmaker for Ludo when she recommends her favorite film, "Brief Encounter," to him, and, at the video store, Ludo collides with another customer, Gwendolyn (Zoe Tapper of "Stage Beauty"), who becomes his girlfriend. Plowright is cast here in one of her best roles in years. So often relegated to dotty supporting perfs, she carries this pic squarely on her shoulders as the proud, private Mrs. Palfrey. And, she's surprisingly well-matched by Friend as the kindly young writer. Friend joins a list of young actors shepherded by Ireland, including Renee Zellweger, Thomas Jane and Emmy Rossum; with his strapping looks and ample talent, Friend can expect bigger roles ahead. Final act is unexpectedly dark and poignant, but also offers hope and misty optimism. The entire film has a retro look and feel that is especially evident in its costumes and intimate settings. Pic also features also a rich, evocative score by Steven Barton. --VarietyIt would be easy to overpraise a film like Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont. There's a wealth of sentimental, sad scenes, enacted by old pros like Plowright and Massey and Lang, that are ruthlessly calculated to tug at the heartstrings, and which suggest a better film in your memory and in your heart than what was actually on the screen. So let's not do that; let's give the film the proper respect it deserves. Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont is a pleasant, poignant, though familiar fable, simply presented, and touchingly acted. No more; no less. Final Thoughts: Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont is a shameless little sentimental piece that boasts a wonderful, tender performance by Joan Plowright. She lets us see a character we never see on the movie screens anymore: a fully functioning, fully emotional, vibrant, caring, intelligent older person in a lead role. And for that, Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont gets my recommendation. If the movie blows the chance to be something more than just an at times affecting escapist fantasy, well, so what? It still lets us see a total pro in action, giving one of the best performances of her career. I recommend Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont. --DVDTalk.com
H**
Respect
Respect , patience, understanding
K**R
A Most Touching Movie!
When we get old and slow down, our burdens become heavy. And, our children who are still full of life,naturally, have yet to slow down. That's the way it is supposed to be. But the loneliness we experience is crippling. Friends we talked to every day are no longer there because they sadly have passed on. Our world becomes smaller and smaller. And before you know it=even to our own selves, life as we knew it is no longer. Being an elderly person is not easy, no, not at all. We never knew what our grandparents went through when they got old. We never knew the depth of their loneliness because they hid it from us. They didn't want us to know what we would have to go through as we too got old because they wanted us to enjoy our life for as long as we possibly could. No one prepares us for this.This movie was a wonderful depiction of how it really feels to be old. I could relate to every part of this movie.
Z**P
Interesting and thoughtful but not particularly memorable
A story of an older woman building new relationships and passing on her quiet appreciation of life to a younger, lonely stranger who becomes a friend. Joan Plowright is excellent in the lead and inspiring in her orientation to find contentment in life. Rupert Friend is good at looking handsome but his acting chops were a little stretched, imho, by the role, especially at moments of strongest emotion. Something about the movie felt a little unreal to me, as if it were written by an older woman about how she wished she could be and the platonic friendship she wished she could have with an attractive young pseudo-grandson. I appreciated that the movie was clean (except for one bedroom scene that was easy to fast forward through) - I don't even remember any foul language. All in all it was an enjoyable evening spent watching this movie, although it left me a little flat at the end.
J**M
Dame Joan not to be missed!
Lovely score! Dame Joan was excellent, as usual! Brava!
T**D
Sweet and real
I think I may be willing to live a few more years, now.
T**A
Beloved Sasa
Mrs. Palfry, played by the illustrous Joan Plowright, moves to the Claremont Hotel in London to spend her last years. One afternoon as she returns from the library, she falls on the sidewalk, and a young man, Ludo, a struggling writer, played by Rupert Friend, runs up from his basement apartment to assist her. He brings her into his apartment, cleans her bruised knee, and serves her tea. From there a close friendship blossoms between the two.When Mrs. Palfry first moved to the Claremont, she told the other residents, all senior citizens like herself, that she had a grandson named Desmond, and that he was employed at the museum. She had called Desmond and invited him to come to the hotel, but he never called her back, nor did he visit her at the hotel, much to her disappointment. Now, in thanks for helping her, Mrs. Palfry invited Ludo to the Claremontfor dinner. She told the residents that a guest was coming for dinner and they all assumed it was Desmond, and Mrs. Palfry did not correct them. She did, however, go to Ludo and ask him to pretend to be Desmond. He agreed. He asked her what he should call her. She said when Desmond was little he used to call her Sasa. Thus, from thereon, Ludo, called Mrs. Palfry, Sasa.Ludo and Mrs. Palfrey spent many happy hours together, and she inspired him to write about the guests at the Claremont, and about her life and her beloved marriage to Arthur, her husband. The real Desmond showed up at the hotel one morning much to Mrs. Palfry's consternation to which she rushed him out of the hotel, telling him that relatives were not allowed to visit guests at the hotel. To the residents, she said that Desmond was her accountant.One of the guests, Mrs. Arbuthnot, played by Anna Massey, who was a very opinionated, yet likable woman, took ill one day, and was rushed to the hospital, which truly upset Mrs. Palfry, who had befriended her. Mrs. Abuthnot would always say, "We don't come here to die." Mrs. Arbuthnot died at the hospital. When Mrs. Palfrey fractured her hip, it was Ludo who came to the hospital every day to read poetry to her. Desmond never came.Joan Plowright is superb as Mrs. Palfry as she always is in any part she plays. Rupert Friend as Ludo is also outstanding and plays a sensitive role as the pretend Desmond, and he is very handsome. Anna Massey is excellent as Mrs. Arbuthnot. The supporting cast is outstanding.
M**S
Wonderful story and acting for anyone who has a Grandmother or a Mother
The best film I have seen about how aging people sometimes have to find their own way and create their own "family" with strangers due to the lack of love and compassion from their own relatives. The acting is wonderful and I highly recommend this film for anyone going through the aging process and especially for their relatives.This quiet but powerful film, based on a a book written by the British novelist Elizabeth Taylor, has a lovely, important message for adult children and grandchildren who having aging parents and/or grandparents. Kindness, compassion, love, respect, appreciation and quality time is what our senior family members need most. Thank you to the actors and all who took part in making this sweet film.
D**R
Excellent Movie
One of those movies you hate because of the ending.It was a great story of cherishing a special friendship and the antagonist is correct, there are people who come into our lives for a brief moment in time who leave an indelible mark on our lives forever.Those low ratings, putting this movie down for being depressing and long need to live life a bit more then re-watch it to have a better understanding.
M**I
Acting master class
What a great loss it is that Joan Plowright retired (due to macular degeneration robbing her of her sight) there could have been many more roles for such a gifted actress but alas...This is Plowright's final true leading part and she shines bright as the great actress she is/was.There are many small parts taken by fantastic character actors which are delightful but this is Plowright's film and she plays her part so perfectly. Watch out for the scene with Ludo when he sings to her - the emotions that come from her without a word being spoken are worth a thousand lines of script - THAT is acting!!
B**.
Terribly disappointing.
A sad tribute to an excellent book, and an even more sad waste of the exceptional talents of Joan Plowright. Slow moving and sentimental, the film has none of the verve of the novel. I can't recommend the film, but strongly recommend Elizabeth Taylor's subtle and intelligent novel
G**R
Just wonderful
It is so lovely to watch a production with Joan Plowright and Rupert Friend, it is easy going and well paced, about a friendship between a widow and a young author which develops after Mrs Palfrey (Joan Plowright) moves to the Claremont hotel in London to be nearer to her grandson. Her relationship with her grandson does not go according to plan, and instead she meets Ludovic Meyer (Rupert Friend) who becomes a substitute grandson.Joan Plowright is as good as ever and I am really impressed with Rupert Friend (he is also in 'Cheri' and the 'Young Victoria', which are also very good). In my opinion, I don't think there are enough productions of this kind. This DVD is for keeps.
M**E
Great acting but takes a very different approach from the book.
The acting was excellent but the story line is significantly changed in places so if you were hoping for an accurate dramatisation of the Taylor novel you will be disappointed. It ends up more honeyed and less ambiguous than the original and so lacks the book's depiction of the somewhat exploitative element in the relationship between the fake grandson' and Mrs. Palfrey.
P**S
A mixed bag.
It's rather dated - in quite a lot of respects including the colour. That said, there are aspects of the DVD which are pleasing. I don't regret having bought it.
Trustpilot
5 days ago
3 weeks ago
