Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont

For people who like the British actress Joan Plowright, the movie Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont may be just the thing. Ruth Sacks wrote the screenplay, and Dan Ireland directed this story of a widow who moves to London to take in the local cultural attractions and be near her grandson.

The grandson fails to appear, and so do the cultural attractions. Instead, Mrs. Palfrey makes new friends, including a young writer. The story that follows portrays a genteel old age and a peaceful demise.

All this is just fine if you want death and old age shown in an ideal fashion. I like escapism as much as the next movie goer, but this escape tested my willingness to suspend disbelief.

Nonetheless, the film was well made and presents a series of colorful characters who inhabit the
Claremont Hotel. If you're looking for light entertainment with a serious edge, this may be just your film.