Only one moment in this wonderful film disconcerted me; seemingly deliberately, the writer leaves his manuscript behind on a shelf in Mrs. P's hospital room, knowing all too well that she won't be able to read it. Despite his grief, I found this an instance of behavior unlikely in a young author who had struggled to produce his first important work. Does anyone who's read the source novel recall whether this action appeared there too?
shareThis bothered me too. I was hoping that he had made a copy of it and that he hadn't left the only copy there in her room.
shareSorry, but it's Ludo's gift to Mrs Palfrey - and a family that never knew her. Hopefully her daughter might read it and discover the mother she never knew. At least that is the way I intended it. Hope that answers your question. Dan Ireland
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Dan,
This is the most wonderful movie I have seen in the longest time! As i left the theater someone asked me, "how was Mrs. Palfrey?", and I replied, "it was the best 2 hours I have spent in a long, long time!"
Who is the original artist of the song For All We Know, and does Rupert do his own singing and playing guitar ?
I can't wait for the movie to come out on DVD so I can too watch it over and over again. I don't remember ever saying that before!
Jan
In the film credits, the song is sung by Rosemary Clooney. It has been done by many people. Donny Hathaway does an unbelievably moving version of it. If you search online you can find out more about the song, including more people who have recorded it. It says in the film credits that Rupert played the guitar and sang, and wrote the song he sang about Mrs. Palfrey.
share"There's a little lady that you really must see,
To you she might be Sarah but to me she's Mrs P,
She has a hand on her stocking and it tied around
her wounded knee"
Rupert wrote this, which he sings to Mrs P in the Subway Station.
It's meant as a laugh. For All We Know is not the song that we were referring to.
I agree about the mvie being the best in a long, long time!
I cried and cried it was so moving
Hi Dan,
That is the way that I took it. I'm glad to see that I was right.
I LOVED this movie! I watched it last night for the first time. It has been a long time since a movie has sincerely moved me to tears. Thank you.
I would have preferred that the movie ended with him getting the book published and sending a copy to the daughter or a scene showing the daughter walking in front of a bookstore and seeing a bestseller promotional display of the book "Sasa" and going in to buy it.
Oh sweet mystery of life at last I have found yuuuuuu
What about Ludo turning into Stephen King? And the idea of the daughter walking by a bookshop and seeing the book on her mother was done in The Lives of Others, sort of, at the end. And re the ending, perhaps if they do an American remake with Olympia Dukakis and Ashton Kucher they might consider your ideas. But not in my film. It's there on celluloid forever. Hope you enjoyed the rest of it. Dan I
shareFlawless film, Dan. And extremely generous of you to come on line here. You can be sure that I--and others--will be looking for your name on other films to come.
As for the rest of you, reading and commenting, this was Dan's film. And I, for one, am quite pleased it was in his hands.
Agreed, flawless film. I just got to see it on Netflix...wasn't familiar with it before. I feel lucky to have stumbled onto it, sort of how she stumbled into the young man's life :)
shareThanks for a lovely film; it doesn't need to be re-made for Americans--its appeal is universal. I haven't read Ms. Taylor's novel, but if it is as loving and graceful as your depiction of it, I'll certainly make a point of finding it. Congratulations on a fine accomplishment.
Joe VanZandt, Chicago, USA
Ha, excellent retort!
And your film is lovely. I just happened to catch Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont on cable and will definitely be seeking out more of your work. Cheers!
Dan,
I had not read the book; caught this on Showtime. Still teary-eyed, 30 minutes after the credits rolled by.
It took me five minutes to figure out leaving the book behind.
You told this story so beautifully. An "American remake" would be a dilution.
All the best. JS
Dan, if you are the director, Thanks so much.
My wife and I are in our sixties, on the cusp of the people who lived in the Claremont. The film was inspired, yet true to the reality of those at the two poles of adulthood; Mrs. Palefry with her memories, and Ludovic, with the world before him, uncertain whether it will be an insurmountable challenge or inspiration to success.
The scene where the three women spontaneously joined in singing of "Autumnal Romance," took the risk of turning this serious film into a parody of a musical. It was a risk well taken, since those musicals are abstractions of a spirit that is quite real. My gang, after some hours of shooting the breeze at an outdoor cafe, occasionally burst into song for the pure joy of sharing the experience, we would dance too if we could.
Ludivic's singing the words, "For all we know," but to a different melody, was a stroke of brilliance, as it focused on the poetry, the touching mystery of these lyrics, released for the instant from the memorable music.
When a rare cinematic project like this is created, I don't know who to credit, since the delight, the transportation of the viewer into the life on screen, only takes place because every person in the chain of creation advanced the idea with perfection. And as in real life, where human connection is our most valued possession, we achieve this by caring enough to fit our needs to others, to be part of something bigger than self, be it an odd couple, or a group of old folks in a hotel.
If life is only a dream, you managed to capture the majestic ephemera usually lost on awakening on this film.
Novelle, and that's the way it ended for you! We all have our own ending to movies.
shareI think having Ludo leave the book behind was the best way to handle the ending. Definitely more of a memorable way to end it.
That's how life is, people touch us, weave in and out of our lives, and there is not always a lot of fan fare, just small gestures.
I loved this movie. It will stay with me for a long time.
Thank you!
I just wanted to share my love for this movie. It is the one I constantly rave about and is always so enjoyed by both the men and women who take my suggestion and view it..
Loved everything about it and Ms Plowright is so wonderful to watch. Every nuance an acting lesson. Just watched it again after two years and laughed, cried and was just as mesmerized as the first time. Also enjoyed your commentary,which I will watch if I particularly love a film, and did the first time too.
Must also add how very much I loved The Whole Wide World. I am a huge Zellweger and D'Onofrio fan and this movie also drew me in completely.
That's how I always saw it, Dan. Most children (grown) rarely only knows scant parts of the lives of their parents. (Case in point: My parents are in their late 70s and early 80s and I'm just now finding out wonderfully interesting bits of their histories.) Even her friends from her married life didn't know her as well as Ludo came to know her.
The entire movie is so beautifully done. Love, however it is defined, binds people together forever. Ludo and Mrs Palfrey love and respect one another in the way they wish they could with their parents (Ludo) and their children (Mrs P). And Ludo's friendship with Mrs P. is what gives him the courage to open his heart and fall in love with a wonderful woman.
_______
Before music, there was silence.
And the flame still burns
Readers ARRRRRR leaders
My mom and I were watching it and we both turned to each other and said, in unison, "I hope he has a copy."
"Yes you're beautiful, indisputable."
He does. Every word, every syllable is imprinted in gold in his brain. Dan I
shareI just saw this movie on demand--what a gem. I loved this movie--I'm going to get the DVD. Oh, and Brief Encounter too--an old favorite!
shareHi Dan:
I am not really familiar with the message board system on IMDB so I hope this goes through and you get to read this post.
I stumbled on your picture just at the scene where Ludovic and Mrs Palfrey are doing the quiz. I was in the middle of an incredibly busy day but something told me to stop what I was doing and watch. I stayed with the film til the very end, looked up when it would be on again, recorded it and waited to watch it with my spouse of 22 years. We just finished it and I have to say that it is one of the most extraordinarily moving and entertaining pieces of cinematic artwork I have ever encountered. It goes, immediately, onto my list of favourites.
I never read the source novel, obviously, but I got what you were doing with the (on this board) much debated choice of his leaving that story behind. I am a writer and I understood and applauded the choice.
And the entire picture.
Long may you live and tell more wonderful stories.
Cheers
Ste
Dear Ste, I'm so sorry that it took me this long to read this wonderful note. You made my night! Week! I lost my mom in April this year to cancer, and I did this one for her all the way - she was my inspiration from the moment I read the novel to doing the screen adaptation update with the brilliant Martin Donovan (the director, not the actor). The most wonderful moment of my life was sitting next to her in the theatre in Vancouver holding her hand as we watched the film together. And for anyone who has ever had the kind of amazing friendship that I got to have with my Betty, this one goes out to them. Thanks Ste. I'm working on a new film with Martin right now that has to do with an unusual friendship between a bitter old lady and a young man who teaches her a thing or two along the way. It's mostly a comedy, but it will have heart - couldn't do it unless it did. My best, Dan
shareDan,
I won't go into how great this film is because everyone before me has expressed it better than I ever could. So thank you sir for your work. I am a huge fan of Joan Plowright and will watch anything her name is attached to. I look forward to your next film and again thank you.
The first time we watched this, my mother, who is not a movie fan or much for watching a film a second time, asked, "When can we watch it again?!" Well, I taped the next airing and, since then, we have watched it at least 15 times, including this very snowy, very cold afternoon.
It's as wonderful each time. We already were Joan Plowright fans, but both of us found Rupert Friend absolutely delightful and have watched for his other work.
I'd love to find a copy of the novel someday. Till then, we'll coninue replaying "Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont".
By the way, I always felt that Ludo's book was for Mrs. Palfrey, not the public. I never felt that he would "cash in" on their friendship in any way though it would be a beautiful tribute. I agree that the book will give her family the opportunity to truly see Sarah Palfrey, not simply as mother and grandmother.
~~MystMoonstruck~~
Just wanted to add my compliments as well to this lovely film. I liked the fact that Ludo left his draft with Mrs.P & his smile was priceless after he passed Elizabeth when the nurse said that a young man had been reading her mother poetry. - I also caught it on Sunday morning & stayed in my pajamas til noon to watch it til the end. I'd rather not have an American version but instead this film air on more of the cable channels, perhaps even a network too, so more people can enjoy it. cathvin87 of Alabama
shareWow, what a great movie! My daughter is an aspiring writer, and I cannot wait to share this movie with her! Well done Dan! I love the ending when he leaves his story for the family and then exits the hospital with a GREAT smile upon his face, it is so touching!
shareYes, Dan ~ Caught this last night on cable and was deeply moved. Perfect casting, the two of them; it rang true, all their scenes together, very organic. Happy he at least found a girlfriend worthy of his sensitivity, in the course of the film, as well.
Come join my Paul Giamatti group - movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/talkpaul/?yguid=5754742
Dan, your movie is magnificent. But only saw it yesterday; just wished there'd been more publicity when it first came out. And as a sometime writer (no inspiration for 10 years -- except for the true-to-life baseball movie in my head), still hard to believe Ludo wouldn't make a copy of his novella for himself. The characters in this movie were exceptionally drawn and wonderfully cast! Running out of kudos but you get the idea.
shareFor anyone who is interested: The book is excellent too!
shareI think his leaving the book behind also meant he left alot of his past behind and when he walked out with his girlfriend, was starting on a new, happier life. His relationship with Mrs. P. helped him that way and so the book was a gift to her.
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