movie: The Lady in the Van
starring: Maggie Smith, Alex Jennings
genre:Comedy, Drama
year:2015
format:Netflix Canada
plot: After a hit and run accident, a nun finds herself on the run from the cops and because of it, homeless.
Based on a biography
This is made to seem like a comedy, but it's not really. The main character is a writer who besides talking to himself, talks himself out of having a life of his own; and ends up arguing with a physical representation of his alter ego a lot. He's sort of cornered between his elder mother and what ends up being the "neighbour" this lady who drives around the block randomly staying in front of everyone's house for a few nights at a time. That is, until the streets are rezoned and she finds her van too large to just park on the street for more than an hour. This leads to her parking in Bennett's driveway.
We watch as she slowly begins to take over not just his space but his mind as well, becoming the central character in his work over the course of the next 15 years. This sort of leads you to wonder, is she suppose to be a surrogate mom for him or a surrogate wife? (or in this case surrogate husband as the lead male is gay) The dynamics between the two leads is interesting; in this push pull attitude. Neither wanting to admit they really need the other in their life.
There are a few scenes where the Lady, gets a new vehicle, each smaller than the one before, leading the audience to believe she'll eventually end up in the house with him. But, oddly it never plays out this way. It's just suppose to show their comfort level with each other and how their trust has grown.
I thought it was interesting the way the two leads manage to show more compassion for each other than for members of their own family, each hiding elements of themselves from their families, afraid of how they will react.
what did I learn? It's always easier to tell a stranger your secrets, until they are no longer a stranger.
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