By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Nicholas Hytner
Country: united_kingdom
Year: 2016
Running time: 104
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3722070/combined
Bruce says: “In 1970 playwright Alan Bennett moved into a small house in Camden Town, a then up-and-coming artsy neighborhood. Shortly thereafter Bennett noticed there was a van parked down the street and a feisty old woman seemed to be camping out in it. Next the van moved directly in front of his house. Bennett had dealings with her off and on; she did use his bathroom for the occasional emergency. When the neighbors got in an uproar over her cantankerous behavior, it appeared they were going to force the van off the streets. Bennett decided the only decent thing to do was invite the old crone to park her van in his unused driveway. After all, he rode a bike and had no need for a driveway. When he returned home to properly extend an invitation, Bennett was somewhat taken aback to find the van already parked in his drive. Over a period of fifteen years, the lady in the van and Bennett developed a unique relationship. Never friends, never enemies, they forged ahead from year to year.
“What was Bennett to do? Write about what he knew. And so the lady in the van became THE LADY IN THE VAN. Its first iteration was on the London stage at the National Theatre where Maggie Smith initiated the role of Mary Shepherd as did Alex Jennings with the role of Bennett; Nicholas Hytner also directed the play. The film concerns itself not only with the Mary Shepherd story but includes Alan Bennett’s struggle with bringing the intensely personal drama to the stage. The film has two Alex Jennings on screen representing Bennett and his critical alter ego. Not having seen the play I suspect this device supplants Jennings talking directly to the audience in monologue. Filmwise, the gimmick works. It is also the source of much humor thanks to the wonderful timing of Jennings. Simultaneously, Bennett is trying to determine who the lady in the van really is – so there is a bit of mystery as well. The wonderful Maggie Smith has a field day with her character’s ornery behavior, being demanding and elusive when gratitude would be more befitting. The supporting cast is given quirky characters to embody and do so with glee.
“THE LADY IN THE VAN is a gentle film about how we can be generous, forgiving and loving without overdramatizing those characteristics. Some may view this as typical English reserve; I think not. I think THE LADY IN THE VAN is more of a reflection on the human condition. 4 cats
“(THE LADY IN THE VAN screened at the 2015 London Film Festival.)”