Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (B+ or 3/4 stars)
'Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris' (directed by Anthony Fabian & based on a popular novel), is an utterly charming, delightful escape from all our daily woes, as well as some superhero/animated flicks that are clogging up cinema screens. It is 1957 and our protagonist is effervescent Ada Harris (Lesley Manville, of Another Year, Phantom Thread), a widowed cleaning lady who services clients in London, much like her best friend, Vi Butterfield (Ellen Thomas). While roguish bookie Archie (Jason Isaacs) is sweet on her, Ada's real love is fashion and, when she stumbles upon her rich client's exquisite Christian Dior dress, Ada wants one for herself. So, she saves up $$ and, with some added luck {from her deceased husband}, she has enough to set-off for Paris.
But when she makes it to Dior headquarters, imperious gatekeeper Mme. Claudine Colbert (Isabelle Huppert) won't allow her in for a fashion show/sale. That prompts wealthy widower Marquis de Chassagne (Lambert Wilson) to escort her in as his guest and, despite Claudine's stern objections, Dior's shy accountant Andre Fauvel (Lucas Bravo) - who secretly longs for Dior model Natasha (lovely Alba Baptista) - assures her that she'll purchase a dress. Viewing one amazing dress after another, Ada selects a stunning crimson red dress titled Temptation, which is promptly usurped by a snobbish patroness. So instead, Ada chooses a blue-green dress titled Venus. The only issue: it will take a week's worth of daily fittings, thus necessitating the help of strangers to house & accommodate her while she waits. And during the course of said week, they will all have an impact on her, as will she on them.
There is a strong Cinderella-like faerie tale aspect to this charming drama/comedy about a kind house cleaner who works her way up into the world of high fashion. Cinderella made her way to 'the Ball', whereas, for Ada, the Ball would be a tea dance in a local hall, haha. Lesley Manville makes for a wholly sympathetic & affable lead character whose inner resolve shines through her subordinate position in a way that will strike a chord with many; she even fights for workplace justice at Dior. It is fascinating to see how different Manville is here from her stoic, severe Oscar-nominated role from another 1950's set fashion drama, Phantom Thread. Everyone impresses here, including Huppert, and I was very taken with both Lucas Bravo & Alba Baptista.
The other star of this movie would have to be the spectacular fashions & sets. Oscar-winning production designer Luciana Arrighi's re-creation of the Dior headquarters is amazing. And 3-time Oscar-winner Jenny Beavan provides bygone era costumes that make me want to take a step back in time. Now, 'Mrs. Harris ...' isn't perfect. I had to suspend disbelief for an inordinate amount of times in which coincidences occur. i.e., characters pop-up at jusssst the right time over & over again. Unlikely event precedes unlikely event. But this is the type of genial, enchanting film where all that doesn't matter much in the end. Realistic or not, this movie is an uplifting underdog tale with a lead character as hopeful, courageous & endearing as they come.
But when she makes it to Dior headquarters, imperious gatekeeper Mme. Claudine Colbert (Isabelle Huppert) won't allow her in for a fashion show/sale. That prompts wealthy widower Marquis de Chassagne (Lambert Wilson) to escort her in as his guest and, despite Claudine's stern objections, Dior's shy accountant Andre Fauvel (Lucas Bravo) - who secretly longs for Dior model Natasha (lovely Alba Baptista) - assures her that she'll purchase a dress. Viewing one amazing dress after another, Ada selects a stunning crimson red dress titled Temptation, which is promptly usurped by a snobbish patroness. So instead, Ada chooses a blue-green dress titled Venus. The only issue: it will take a week's worth of daily fittings, thus necessitating the help of strangers to house & accommodate her while she waits. And during the course of said week, they will all have an impact on her, as will she on them.
There is a strong Cinderella-like faerie tale aspect to this charming drama/comedy about a kind house cleaner who works her way up into the world of high fashion. Cinderella made her way to 'the Ball', whereas, for Ada, the Ball would be a tea dance in a local hall, haha. Lesley Manville makes for a wholly sympathetic & affable lead character whose inner resolve shines through her subordinate position in a way that will strike a chord with many; she even fights for workplace justice at Dior. It is fascinating to see how different Manville is here from her stoic, severe Oscar-nominated role from another 1950's set fashion drama, Phantom Thread. Everyone impresses here, including Huppert, and I was very taken with both Lucas Bravo & Alba Baptista.
The other star of this movie would have to be the spectacular fashions & sets. Oscar-winning production designer Luciana Arrighi's re-creation of the Dior headquarters is amazing. And 3-time Oscar-winner Jenny Beavan provides bygone era costumes that make me want to take a step back in time. Now, 'Mrs. Harris ...' isn't perfect. I had to suspend disbelief for an inordinate amount of times in which coincidences occur. i.e., characters pop-up at jusssst the right time over & over again. Unlikely event precedes unlikely event. But this is the type of genial, enchanting film where all that doesn't matter much in the end. Realistic or not, this movie is an uplifting underdog tale with a lead character as hopeful, courageous & endearing as they come.