Acensbart Excellent but underrated film

Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Kaydan Christian A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Billy Ollie Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

zee A lonely pair of people, one in her 70's, one in his 20's, find each other in London and become a makeshift family far better than their "real" families.It's a bit cloying and sometimes unrealistic--for instance, how someone who looks like Rupert Friend could possibly be without a girlfriend for so long as a day beggars belief, and we're supposed to believe that he has a hard time finding one. And London is awfully safe and clean, here. The hotel is, I think, supposed to be a bit seedy (at least dialog suggests so) but what is on film is glistening. That the writer sometimes has VO narration is odd--it comes so infrequently, it feels like a mistake when it arrives. And it all moves verrry. slowwww. ly.But if you like these sorts of meandering feel-good stories, without any edge whatsoever, it is well enough done. The acting is good. There aren't many good roles for older women, and this has several. Rupert Friend is gorgeous and charming, and the scene where he sings "We May Never Meet Again" to her is a moving emotional climax and worth waiting through the slower points before (though if you're a of a certain mindset about music, you may not like the jazz spin he puts on it.) Her date with the older fellow is quite funny, too, and puts some interest into a sluggish part of the film.

gremma Mrs. Palfrey (Joan Plowright) plays and widow who has chosen independence over life living with family and feeling an inconvenient. She moves to London to a Retirement Hotel, there she meets several "characters" no of whom she finds similar to herself. So she experiences a different type of loneliness, one that leaves her with the loving memories of her husband. Not fitting into the flow of the hotel guests she tries to contact her only grandson who also lives in London, but receives no reply to her attempts. She then writes, what she hopes, is a letter that does not sound desperate, to her daughter about the complete absence of her grandson. Upon leaving the hotel to mail the letter she is asked by one of the hotel guests to pick up a book being held for her at the library. On her way back she happens to have a slip and fall on the sidewalk which, unknown to her, is in front the flat of a young man (Rupert Friend) who runs out to render aid. He is a charming young man who supplies first aide and a cup of tea before putting her into a taxi to go home.Mrs. Palfrey upon returning to the hotel is plagued by curious questions from the guests as why she was gone for so long. As Mrs. Plafrey goes about to try and explain, it is taken for granted by the guests that she was with her grandson, which she does not deny as they all know she has been trying to arrange to see him. Now she is in too deep to get out and simply goes along with the story. She being the lady she is wishes to thank "Ludy" for his kindness anyway uses this opportunity to inform him of the "story" brewed up by the hotel guests and invites him to dine with her at the hotel. She so wants a grandson to show off in front of the guests anyway. Ludy accepts her invitation and to go along with the story to entertain the guests and make Mrs. Palfrey happy. I believe he secretly does not understand how any family could ignore this wonderful lady in the first place.With this basis the play goes on in wonderful form. Mrs. Palfrey and Ludy become special friends. Ludy whose own relationship with his mother has slipped and Mrs. Palfrey who has no contact with her family so they adopt each other as family. Ludy looking for answers to life finds many of them from Mrs. Palfrey; and Mrs. Palfrey finds a way to relive her wonderful days of being in love. It is the perfect symbiotic relationship. Mrs. Palfrey gets to go to the happy past she misses and remember the happy times with her husband; and Ludy gets to see what he didn't know or understand about love.The performances are perfect, the movie moves very well, never slowing or stumbling, both lives are enriched by the friendship both enjoying the deception.I have no idea why this movie never made it to the big screen or why it did not receive more attention. Rupert Friend is indeed a find, a wonderful actor who is also very easy on the eyes. Nothing need be said about Joan Plowright, she is a legend and has already shown that she can easily play any character, and very well.

Armand A splendid film and a profound experience. A masterpiece of old fashion style, romantic, dramatic, subtle, touching, beautiful, delicate, cruel, mixture of deep emotions and slices of nostalgic revelation of world. French atmosphere and charming acting. Brilliant dialogs and a form of elenchos method. And the art to define the life as magnificent web of facts, gestures and desires.I saw this film as a catharsis exercise. In many forms, for me, this film is a way in my past. An occasion to discover answers at old personal questions, to feel the touch of an old lady which was more than a special presence,nostalgic recollection,best friend or collection of virtues but a piece of sense of life. In same measure, inside the purling of memories, important was the image of great Joan Plowright. Not as last wife of Laurence Olivier, not like an amazing actress but as master of a world nuances, with shadow of mystery and essence of gestures.Baroness Olivier is testimony of splendid Old Vic tradition but, in this film, the importance of creation, in a subtle manner, a circle in acting with Rupert Friend is more than element in chain of "Tea with Mussolini", "I am David", "Avalon" or "101 Dalmatians". It is not only good work but proof of a fascinated art and splendid professionalism. And not for the role of Sasa but for the delicate reflection of Rupert Friend's acting.A splendid film . Romance, drama, nostalgic artistic page,comedy, trip in the respiration of feelings.

forindcine I've got to be honest with you, I knew nothing about this film until a good friend and cinema buff informed me he had just seen this straightforward, uncomplicated, yet beautiful film. With complete respect and trust for my friend's taste, I summoned my wife and found Mrs. Palfrey at my local "indie" theater. (Thanks Ben)Once at the theater my anticipation increased when I realized the film would be presented via the use of a Digital Cinema Projector (DCP). DCP is the latest in film technology; the film's distributor delivers the production to the theater via a satellite download. As with all things digital, you completely eliminate image generation loss, dust, dirt or scratches on the film. The result is the brightest, cleanest, and sharpest images ever shown on theater screens. Images are so crisp, even an un-trained eye will notice something amazingly special. The solitary thing preventing and near flawless reproduction of the motion picture are the tiny particles always floating through the air between the projector and the screen. Ask about DCP the next time you "shell out" too much at your local cinema.Mrs. Palfrey is an intimate story from the U.K. It's about a widow who has lived a wonderful life with her husband but decides to move to London into a retirement hotel - the Claremont . For the first time, she has an opportunity to be her own woman, not a wife, mother or grandmother. She meets a young artist, about the age of her grandson, and starts the most beautiful platonic relationship ever seen on screen. They find themselves in a companionship full of discovery, growth, independence and cherished moments. The film is perfectly cast; each extended stay character at the Claremont quickly reminds you of people you know. Mrs. Palfrey, played by the wonderful Joan Plowright, will take you in with her sophistication, experience, motherly charm, warmth and personality. She's the woman we would all enjoy having around to enrich our lives.Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont is the kind of film you want to share with your mother, daughter, partner or good friend. Don't miss it.