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HOW ABOUT YOU Send This Review to a Friend
When you get a top group of British actors together, that’s half the battle of creating an appealing film. Such is the case with “How About You” an immensely satisfying story about characters in a retirement home in Ireland who are withdrawn and irascible but come out of their shells when a young woman refuses to accept their attitudes and shakes them up with gratifying results. There is also the aspect of youth interacting with the elderly, which raises an issue of how older citizens can benefit by such interaction, and the young having the opportunity to learn something helpful in their own lives.
“How About You,” based on a short story by Maeve Binchy, has been sensitively directed by Anthony Byrne from a screenplay by Jean Pasley. And what a cast!
Vanessa Redgrave plays Georgia Platts, a one-time showgirl who has memories of past triumphs. Brenda Fricker plays Heather Nightingale, who has dominated her younger sister, Hazel, played by the always superb Imelda Staunton. As the story develops, we learn of a pitiful event from Hazel’s past that has dampened her life and left her seething with sadness and resentment.
Fine actor Joss Ackland plays Donald Vanston, a retired judge who was once an alcoholic, and a loss in his past partly explains why he has become such a curmudgeon. But as the story development shows, there is hope for him in his advanced years.
The residence, known as Woodlands, is in financial difficulties, with other residents having been driven out by the nastiness of those remaining characters. The home is owned by Kate Harris, played by Oria Brady, and when she has to leave, her younger sister Ellie, somewhat at sea in life and portrayed with charm and élan by the delightful Hayley Atwell, is left to care for the place at Christmastime. Ellie’s idea of giving the gang a good time is to bake some hashish-enhanced cookies. But more than that, she sees the possibilities of making the residents connect with one another by not accepting their behavior. The process is endearing, and often quite hilarious.
There’s trouble afoot when an inspector calls and is appalled by what he sees, but even he is won over in this good-natured, emotion-filled story. In addition to what Ellie does for her temporary charges, the happy outcome brings her closer to her sister.
The theme song of the film, “How About You,” sets the tone at the outset while the opening credits roll by, and in a pub scene during this enjoyable film, we get to hear Vanessa Redgrave sing. That’s an extra plus for this warm-hearted, very civilized film. A Strand Releasing release.
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