Tag Archives: London

Aug5

Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont – Film Review

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As I’ve never read the book by Elizabeth Taylor, I was quite intrigued when I looked at the DVD case in the local library and saw a  tall dark and handsome man called Rupert Friend. A fresh face to the screen.

Sarah Palfrey an elderly widow leaves her daughter to gain back some of her forgotten independence. Enjoying her last chapter of her life, she becomes a resident to the Claremont hotel. With others their alike, she becomes quite settled.

One day venturing from the hotel for the first time, she goes to post a letter to her ignorant grandson, for an invitation for dinner. However getting more than she bargained for after a little accident. She encounters a young aspiring writer who goes by the ridiculous name Ludovic Meyer (Rupert Friend). Cleaning her leg up, they talk and learn stuff about one another. Years apart, both the characters realize they are both equally as lonely as each other. After clearing her leg, Sarah reveals how she never see’s her grandson, realizing her friends at the hotel thinks she’s made him up. So Ludovic as a favor to her pretends to be Desmond for one night, inviting him to the hotel where she is staying for dinner. All the residents are very impressed by her new grandson. Having the desired effect, the two of them decide to meet again. Surprisingly the real  Desmond decides to  show up to the hotel a couple of days after, claiming to see his Grandmother. Mrs Palfrey, too embarrassed to say he is her real grandson pretends to everyone he is her accountant.

The story of the film is the building of a great foundation to friendship. Mrs Palfrey becomes someone who Ludovic can confide within. Sharing his love of writing and music. She becomes the Grandmother he never had. Asking her to reveal her life’s most  fondest memories with him. Having a huge impact on Ludovic, she inspires him to write a book on there times together.

The film is very similar to “Driving Lessons” starring Rupert Grint and Julie Walters. When the unlikeliest of people meet and become life long friends. I absolutely loved the story and hope i could meet someone as interesting as Mrs Palfrey. Rupert Friend was a great actor and i must say very good looking. At least though with his dashing good looks he does have charisma on screen to back himself up.

8/10