Romantic fiction?
Does anyone else out there think that the story of this film is meant to be viewed through Mrs Delahunty's lens - that it is just the sort of romantic fiction that she would have made up? Even when she's not on screen, the characters behave in ridiculously stereotyped ways (witness, for one small example, the German with excellent English who nevertheless hasn't quite caught those quaint English words like "hollyhock" and "sundial"!) Even when she overhears the scientist's frank assessment of her on the telephone, it is just the sort of stereotypical thing that a hard headed scientist would be made to say in a romantic novel. And even Mrs Delahunty's terrible past is a typical romantic plot device, and it is viewed through soft focus stylised images. If this idea (of a romantic fiction) is intended, the film is more interesting; if not, I think it's pretty much pleasant and diverting tosh. Though Maggie Smith is good either way!
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