Ladies in Lavender, based on story by William Locke, written and directed by Charles Dance - Eight out of 10

Ladies in Lavender, based on story by William Locke, written and directed by Charles Dance

Eight out of 10

With Dames Judy Dench and Maggie Smith leading the cast as the Ladies in Lavender, this film could not be an unfortunate experience.

It is not the best motion picture in which the iconic actresses have been, but it is a notable, emotional, romantic story.

Judi Dench plays the part of Ursula, while Maggie Smith has the role of Janet and they are sisters living in a village on the shore of Cornwall.

Looking at the beach one day, Ursula sees a shadow near the beach and her sister thinks it is a man.

Indeed, brought ashore by the storm of the previous night, a castaway is just barely surviving.

The sisters bring him to their cottage and helped by Doctor Francis Mead, they nurse and help him recover.

He does not speak English and that would be cause for concern and then suspicion in the village.

This is the period just before the war, the Nazis were becoming ever more belligerent, and some think the stranger might be a spy.

Doctor Francis Mead is prejudiced and determined to eliminate a rival when he talks to the constable about the dangers posed by the foreigner.

Meanwhile, the sisters teach the young man English, with labels attached to the door, curtains and other objects in his room to begin with.

They also are attached to him, especially Ursula, who is rather advanced in age, when compared with the recovering castaway.

After the dialogue is established, they find that his name is Andrea – the excellent Daniel Bruhl portrays him.

He is not German and in no way an agent of the Third Reich as presumed by paranoid locals.

In fact, he is Polish and very gifted and talented as they would discover when they bring in a neighbor with his violin.

After listening to a good, if not exceptional performance, Andrea asks for the musical instrument.

In addition, the outstanding genius with which he delivers a sophisticated small concert overwhelms us all.

A Russian woman is holidaying in the village and she happens to hear at a later stage how gifted the young man is.

She is Olga Daniloff and the wonderful Natascha McElhone plays the part with brilliance and élan.

Olga is extremely beautiful and the doctor is soon infatuated and tries to court and seduce her.

His efforts are in vain, albeit his insistence turns to spying, when he is rejected and he soon tries to harm Andrea.

Ursula is also jealous when a letter is sent, mentioning that Olga, who is a painter, has a famous brother.

He is a world famous violinist and given his position in the artistic world, he could help the career of Andrea.

Nevertheless, willing to keep Andrea for herself so to say, Ursula does not say a word about this wondrous opportunity.

Indeed, also fond of the young man, albeit not in the same rather exaggerated and inappropriate manner as her sister, Janet burns the letter from Olga.

When finally the violinist finds about it, he is very upset with the Ladies in Lavender and ready to take his chance.

However, it takes initiative and determination on the part of Olga to make him act before he is stopped.

The woman decides that they must act quickly and see her acclaimed brother as soon as possible.

Miriam Margoyles in the role of Dorcas and Toby Jones as Hedley are only two of the other brilliant actors present in this very good motion picture.