La signora Harris va a Parigi

What a great little film - albeit more of a woman's picture, but still it has all the elements that are missing in so many films today. Mrs. Harris is a real person - she has optimism; she's older; she has a brain and knows how to use it AND she has heart and soul. She has a dream to own haute couture and goes about making that dream happen. Along the way she meets, befriends and wins over a variety of characters. This is like a kinder, gentler version of THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA. The writing is kind and sweet - nothing that is far out; nothing that would contain any great surprises - its just a sweet little story. Leslie Manville is perfect as Mrs. Harris - you wouldn't mind if she were your mother or grandmother and for all her good-heartedness, you want her to be rewarded. You're not bowled over with $100MM worth of special effects - this is just something to sit back, relax and enjoy. That's why it only made $31MM instead of $500MM. Bravo to Focus pictures.

Just watched this at my local cinema on a rainy, October afternoon. Got the ice cream and sat down. I loved every minute of this movie and didn't want it to end. The time flew by.

Leslie Manville as the lead is just wonderful, she pulls you in in a believable, nice and relatable manner...she is an impressive actor who oozes style, class and panache...I just adored her in this. The supporting cast compliment in a seam free style and come across as a professional crew who really enjoyed being a part of this fun film. It's confident and light and proud of itself whilst recognising that the audience are there to be entertained and they ain't stupid. Really reccomended for a wet afternoon.

This is a well-directed and well-acted film about an English charwoman who becomes besotted with a Dior dress, and eventually manages to cobble up the funds to go to the House of Dior in Paris to buy one. But a Dior dress is not something she can buy off-the-rack, and so Mrs Harris has time for side adventures. The film is well-directed and well-acted, and allegedly the re-creations of Dior are authentic.

This is a European production, not Hollywood. Everyone speaks their own language, and at one point one French character admonishes another to speak in English (in the presence of Mrs Harris). At some points, I wished for full closed-captioning rather than just subtitles, since sometimes Mrs Harris slipped into a difficult-to-understand accent. Also, there were background plot points that just flashed by, so I needed an explanation from a companion.

Decades ago I had read the novel, and so was eager to see the film. I don't remember details, but the bones of the story was there, even though the ending was tweaked. A recommended film for those who wish to avoid the summer blockbusters.

Mrs. Harris is maybe not the hero we deserve, but the one we need. Everywhere she goes, her kindness spreads like an infectious disease; I'm pretty sure a bit spilled out of the screen and got some of us in the audience. She handles life with such an authenticity, It's marvelous, refreshing.

There's nothing too unexpected about this film, but certainly not a waste of time. The world needs to go see Mrs Harris!

A fun and refreshing afternoon at the movies. Very little drama, some fun lines and totally predictable story. So what? That's what fun movies are for.