Mrs Harris Goes to Paris (2022)

Mrs Harris Goes to Paris (2022)

 7/10

Starring

Lesley Manville

Isabelle Huppert

Lambert Wilson

Alba Baptista

Lucas Bravo

 

Directed by Anthony Fabian

Fantastic movie with warm characters that you’ll be glad to see smile when things start to go their way. Based on the 1958 novel Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico, this movie ties together the French Revolution and a sort of revolution in the business of Dior. This comedy-drama is about a widow who falls in love with a Christian Dior dress. Our lead is a beautiful, gentle lady named Mrs. Ada Harris. Ada is a cleaner who works in numerous homes, cleaning and waiting for her husband, who did not return from the Second World War. Set sometime in the 50s, Ada has been waiting for years to hear from her husband or the RAF about his whereabouts, but sadly, we witness her read a letter from the RAF informing her that he must have died almost a decade ago.

The movie’s warmth comes not just from showing us a lady who decided to go on a trip, but someone who decided to do something to make her happy. That’s what makes this movie magnificent. We see Ada Harris, working as a cleaning lady, pulling money together wherever she can to get enough to buy a dream dress from her dream designer. The movie doesn’t waste time on words, which is what I liked most about it. The way the director takes Ada from someone going to the bar with her friends to someone scraping money together for a dress adds excitement and suspense. Then, when she’s close, she goes and does something out of the blue, which again is an unexpected turn, as she’s up on her luck and then down again.

The pain and loss of all hope is another turn that took me by surprise. The movie’s pacing is well-crafted to suit any viewer. There’s an initial fast pace early on as the dress savings seem very close to completion. Then the movie slows down to a soothing, mellow pace, and a shock of bad luck had me throwing my arms in the air because I didn’t expect that. Then, out of nowhere, about 30 minutes into the movie, we’re on the plane to get this dress.

This movie, for me, is the perfect drama for a nice tea and biscuit Sunday afternoon with your friends. I am sure it will now be available on the streaming platforms now, so please look for it, you will be glad you did.