Late Bloomers

Multilayered drama full with emotions that range from humorous, sad, sorrowful to those of unfulfilled love. Karen Gillan as Louise, is a perfect personification of a late 20's lady reeling after a breakup, and whatever happens in the film, she is the centre of the story. You will notice that, as the movie goes on, you find out there's a lot more to her. Heartache that extends beyond a straightforward breakup has impacted her life and everything else is interwoven into it. We are brought into her life and the feelings she has because of her past, helping us to understand her friendship with an elderly woman who speaks Polish only - all this adds quiet emotion to the narrative, but creates simultaneously the subplot to the main story, as well. The unspoken magic of connection between two unlikely characters makes possible for the anxious Louise to teach the old woman Antonina how to move into the future while missing her past. All those characters feel essential to bring every single feeling to life in the numerous film scenes while assembling the puzzle of life full of hidden love.

This film is emotional, funny, sad, and layered. The main plot is about a woman who is ann emotional wreck due to a breakup. But as the film develops you learn there is much more to her. Her life has been touched by heartache that goes deeper than just a simple breakup. You are brought into her life and the feelings she has because of her past. The sub plot is her relationship with an elderly woman who brings silent emotion to the story. The elderly woman misses her past and learns to move into her future from the main character. Each character plays a critical role in bringing every emotion into each scene. If you speak a bit of Polish than the subtle jokes become more of an inside joke you have with the Polish characters, but don't worry, if you don't, you are filled in at the end.

Louise (Karen Gillan) is a 28 year old mess. She breaks her hip while trying to sneak into her ex-boyfriend's apartment. Her hospital roommate Antonina (Malgorzata Zajaczkowska) is a cranky old lady who speaks only Polish. She ends up in physical therapy with a bunch of old ladies and befriends former enemy Antonina.

Antonina is a little too mean at the start. I'm not sure where she crossed the line. It would be more compelling if she turned up a Polish song instead of English TV. Gillan is doing a terrific job as usual. She's endearing with Antonina. What I love most is her trouble dealing with her mother.

In an age where personal responsibility and accountability have become increasingly hard to come by, it's comforting to know that it's never too late to grow up, as evidenced in director Lisa Steen's debut feature outing. This touching yet insightful comedy-drama tells the story of Louise (Karen Gillan), a 28-year-old Brooklynite seriously in need of getting her act together. When the would-be musician breaks her hip while in a drunken stupor, she undergoes surgery to repair the damaged joint, but, while recovering in the hospital, she's assigned to a semi-private room with a cantankerous old woman who only speaks Polish, Antonina (Margaret Sophie Stein). Language considerations aside, they get off to a rough start on a variety of fronts. But, before long, Louise comes to understand and appreciate Antonina's simmering frustration with essentially being treated as though she's invisible and ends up, quite surprisingly, becoming her caretaker after being released from the hospital. And, through this unlikely relationship, Louise starts to take her own life more seriously, leaving her irresponsibility behind and finally living up to her obligations, most notably reconnecting with her mother, Dorothy (Talia Balsam), who's in the late stages of early onset Alzheimer's Disease. Based on this picture, it's certainly heartening to see that it's possible for those in need of getting their lives in order can still do so, even with some slip-ups along the way. "Late Bloomers" serves up a charming mix of laughs (many of them unexpected in nature) that are well integrated with its share of tender, sensitive moments, all brought to life by the excellent performances of the two leads and a host of colorful supporting players. There are a few points where the narrative meanders a bit, but these are more than made up for by everything that the filmmaker, cast and crew get right. Based on what I've seen here, I'm anxious to see what this director comes up with next, as this effort represents an auspicious start to what I hope and believe will be a promising filmmaking career.

I am a big Karen Gillan fan, I have watched all of her movies that I have been able to find. Also her outstanding stint on "Dr. Who." And she is so talented, with a great singing voice, as she demonstrates briefly in this movie. I probably would have enjoyed this movie if it had a different actress in the lead role but it would not have been as good.

Here Gillan (in her early 30s) is Louise, a 28-yr-old who it seems is having a hard time accepting adulthood. As the movie opens she is on a second story apartment ledge, with too much booze in her she falls hard and ends up in the hospital. She has a broken hip.

As fate would have it she is temporarily in the same recovery room as an older, difficult Polish woman who does not speak English. They immediately detest each others' company but Louise needs an income and the older lady needs a caretaker. That developing relationship is what the movie is about and in the process Louise learns responsibility and how to grow into adulthood.

Not great movie, I didn't enjoy all the scenes, but overall I found it to be enjoyable entertainment, particularly because of Gillan, she is superb! And her song near the end is really great.

At home, streaming.