Camilla

I loved movie. I have placed it with my favorites. I will compare the splendor of this movie with another one of my favorites, My House In Umbria starring Miss Maggie Smith. Jessica's performance, as always gives a touch only she can accomplish. Miss Fonda gives a good performance. Had this movie been on a larger budget i would have chosen someone else to play her role. I noticed that the coat check woman has same last name as Hume Cronyn. All in all, the story was uplifting and a definite re-watch for a rainy day, which is exactly what today is. I love when I've accidentally stumbled upon a movie that turns out out be so worthy you want to see it again. For those who enjoyed this, please make an effort to see My House In Umbria.

Freda Lopez (Bridget Fonda) is a musician who wants to front her own band. Her husband Vincent (Elias Koteas) belittles her dream more as a hobby. While on vacation, they meet Camilla (Jessica Tandy) and her son Harold (Maury Chaykin). Freda is immediately fascinated with former concert violinist Camilla. Vincent gets a chance at work, and decides to leave along with Harold. He and Freda have a fight, and she stays despite of Vincent. After some reminiscence from Camilla, Freda suggests that she and Camilla return to Toronto's Winter Garden Theatre to attend a concert. The men return to find the women gone, and must come to terms with their relationships.

This is a rather slow moving movie. It's a road trip, but unlike 'Thelma & Louise', they don't blow anything up or shot anybody. I do have to warn the more squeamish that the ladies do get naked. It's a road movie of self discovery and reliving old memories. What truly stands out is the absolute brightness of Jessica Tandy. She doesn't miss a beat. She illuminates the screen. This is one of her last movies, and she commands it like the legend she is. Her longtime husband Hume Cronyn also shines in the latter part of the movie. If you're a fan of their work, it's a movie you should search out. Otherwise, it's a little too slow moving for me.

Noteworthy in the first place because of Jessica Tandy, a great actress. Because her acting is great also in this film, she looks so young and lively at 85, because it is her last film. But noteworthy also because of the rest of the cast, all of them credible and well-played. And certainly also noteworthy because of the script. It moves so effortlessly from light to heavy, from drama, to adventure, to comedy, and so equally effortlessly weaves in small subplots and sidelines. The writers really should have gotten top notch assignments after this great performance. Sad to see they didn't really. Also soundtrack fits very nicely (esp. the Brahms).

I saw the film on TV in Romania, on a channel usually aimed at the housewives taste. The film deserves much better than that.

A little slow moving perhaps (even though it's a small film) but for me 'Camilla' was worth the watch for Jessica Tandy who delivers a beautiful final performance. Deepa Mehta's execution is quite alright though perhaps she would have benefited more with more finance. She does use a lot of detailed references, for instance a painting of artist Frida Kahlo at Frida's apartment (hinting on the association between both women). I liked how Tandy's character was introduced and how Fonda's Freda is both intrigued and amused by this enigmatic but lovely older lady and eventually they head on a journey searching for the same thing, that thing which everyone searches. The scenes between Fonda and Tandy are both fun and moving to watch. Fonda holds her own. The score is gentle and of course Brahm's piece is almost always a good listen. Overall, for me it was a good enough watch for a quiet tired evening.

This is one of those movies that should work and almost does. The cast is good, it's generally the sort of thing I should really like, but it all just feels a little too artificial. Yes, movies like this are inherently artificial, but sometimes the writer and director's sincerity makes it feel real. Here, you can see all the seams showing in the fabric; the movie has the contrived sense of a film with a very specific series of talking points it wants to present. There are occasional moments of insight and sparks of imagination, but for the most part there is a real been there done that quality to the whole thing. A decent enough movie, but nothing special.