La conteuse d'histoire

Great family film for all ages. Could be called a "Christmas" movie, but the Christmas part plays a small role. Lisa Jakub's film before she plays the daughter on Mrs. Doubtfire. Jessica Tandy does a fine job as the "story lady" - a grandmother for all the children watching her on her community access TV show.

I remember seeing this movie on a local TV station in the mid90's and thought how wonderful it would be if children could experience the magic of listening and using their imagination again instead of having all visual stimulus at the ready depriving them of the ability to use their imagination to come up with their own original ideas. I feel it portrayed an essential part of human development to listen to stories from the older generation of a time before they were born or stories passed down. Maybe I'm getting old but I would like to think in a similar situation we won't have gone too far beyond radio or watching a storyteller to ever fail to enjoy listening.

Anything with Jessica Tandy, Hume, or her daughter is always fantastic. From Foxfire to Dances with the white dog, all their movies are A-1. Even Lifeboat made by Hitchcock was great. A credit to their profession. This movie also was great and endearing. Will watch once and again. Will recommend to others. Will always love them all. The world mourned when they died. But it rejoices when they are on the silver screen. All their movies tug at the heart. They always will. Never miss any with Jessica, Hume Croyn in it. Will love their work as long as can watch. I been watching now for 46 years and will continue until I am laid at rest.

As, I am sure was previously mentioned...Jessica Tandy is in this movie. Need we say more? Many years ago, I had a boss that thought the only way you could be a good sales person was to talk loudly and firmly, to the point of being pushy. Ms. Tandy, with her quiet and calm demeanor could sell snow to an Eskimo. She makes acting look easy and effortless. That is what makes her so good. This is not a blockbuster movie, but it's a sweet story of an older woman who senses that at her age, people seem to feel she has nothing more to offer. What started out as a small enjoyable pass time, became more than she could have anticipated. In the meantime, she shows a mother that she is missing out on what is really important. Stephanie Zimbalist was wonderful as well. I really enjoyed the movie. Its definitely worth watching.

The moral of "The Story Lady" is something along the lines of the dangers associated with commercialization. Which makes it ironic, in a way, that the story arc of the film itself makes very nearly the same mistakes it warns against. The most powerful passages of this film revolve around the first scenes of Grace McQueen (Jessica Tandy) at the public access cable studio. Tandy has by far the superior acting capability to carry a film based solely on this premise. Somewhat unfortunately, then, does Robert Zeschin's script take a much more unnecessarily complex route.

But such are the dangers of low-ambition TV movies. Jessica Tandy is this film. She is the reason it exists, and why it is so much worth watching. Everything else (save for a wonderful performance from young Lisa Jakub) is par for the course. In spite of that, there's no reason not to like, even love "The Story Lady". Tandy creates a character of wondrous depth and reality. There's nothing remotely false or off about her performance. I very much encourage you to see this film.