{image1} At first glace, Charles Dances Ladies in Lavender seems nothing more than two hours of the clichéd drama that inevitably ensues when two women fall for the same man.
But while the basic plot of this film may be nothing new, the acting, most notably of the aging Widdington sisters (Judi Dench and Maggie Smith), is strong and naturally engaging enough to enjoy the film for what it is: a delightful and heartwarming story.
When the handsome Andrea Marowski (Daniel Bruhl) washes up on the shores of Cornwall unconscious and battered, the Widdington sisters, with nothing better to do than sip tea about their garden, rescue and nurse him back to health with the help of Dr. Mead (David Warner).
Knowing barely a word of English, Andrea communicates to Janet (Smith) using German. They find out he is Polish, and soon discover that what he lacks in English-speaking skills, he makes up for in brilliant musical talent.
Both sisters take immediate interest in the young man, and while Janets seems mostly motherly, Ursula (Dench) develops an almost lustful infatuation with him, despite her being something close to 40 years his elder. Picking up on Ursulas obviously ridiculous fantasies, Janet becomes irritated, and soon, the sisters, who had lived calm and relatively uneventful lives for years, suddenly find themselves in tension-filled turmoil.
Ursulas possessiveness over Andrea only grows when their beautiful young neighbor, Ogla Danilof (Natascha McElhone), hears him playing the violin in the garden one day and stops by to meet him. While everyone believes Olgas interest to be romantic, the twist is that she ends up being the key to his new life as a professional violinist.
The majority of this film is rather uneventful, in the sense that there are relatively few moments of crisis or trepidation. What carries the film there are things like the subtle hints of humor, like the character of Dr. Mead, who is somehow convinced that if he just speaks louder and slower, Andrea might understand his English.
Some suspense occurs when the jealous Dr. Mead, who has developed a liking for Olga, boldly suggests that Andrea is actually a spy for the Germans in hopes that he would be jailed and, therefore, out of Olgas reach. Set in 1936, with the onset of WWII looming, the suspicion has some valid grounds, but is quickly diminished by Andreas innocence and charm.
The downfall is that the film leaves so many questions unanswered, first being why the heck Andrea washed up on the beach in the first place? Our only hints include vague mentions of WWII brewing, and a one-line reference of America as being as a new start for the young Pole as he gazes out across the ocean.
Was this a story of Andreas political escapism? A tale of two sisters lives interrupted? Or was it more an homage to the mysterious powers of life, which, no matter how random, always bring us to who we need?
Either way, if you have the patience, Ladies in Lavender is a sweet story that will leave you with a smile.
"Ladies of Lavender" is now playing at the Downer Theater.
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.
As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”
