Maggie Smith shines as Miss Shepherd, the Lady in the Van, based on a “mostly true” story, the film tells the story of the mysterious old woman who arrives in Camden in an old Bedford van and becomes a muse for Alan Bennett (played by Alex Jennings).
We get to see a moment of Miss Shepherd’s past early in the film after a blank screen and the sound of an accident happening, we later learn more about the accident and why she has become the Lady in the Van.
Obviously the residents of Gloucester Crescent aren’t happy with this vagrant arriving in their happy street and although they do help, Miss Shepherd certainly doesn’t show her gratitude with any thank you’s, instead she leaves them with a stare or a comment or two!
But she can certainly spot someone who is willing to help and after a while she get’s her beaten up Bedford van on to Bennett’s drive, although only for three months, it ends up being 15 years.
One thing that really stands out about the film is Maggie Smith, she is superb as the Lady in the Van, you could say she is a scene stealer and although she may be playing a character that is down on her luck, homeless and does have some rather unorthodox hygiene issues, she shines.
The on-screen presence of Maggie Smith and Alex Jennings is something that really brings the film to life, with her dry wit it certainly made the cinema audience at the Scala Prestatyn laugh loudly, which they did during the showing I attended. With a cinema screen nearly packed out, it was a joy to see so many people enjoying not only Maggie Smith’s performance, but also the rest of the cast.
“There were few occasions on which we saw her genuinely happy, and one of these was when she was putting paint on.” – Alan Bennett
Alex Jennings is great as Alan Bennett and he really does sound like him, it is a little strange at first to notice that there is two of him, but this is all nicely explained very quickly and is a lovely touch to the film.
Add in to the mix Jim Broadbent as a Underwood, a retired police officer that has a slightly strange obsession with Miss Shepherd, Frances de le Tour (Rising Damp, Vicious) as Ursula Vaughan Williams, cameos from Russell Tovey (Being Human, Him & Her), Dominic Cooper (Captain America, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter), James Corden (Gavin & Stacey) and not forgetting the man himself, Alan Bennett.
In a world of sci-fi and over bloated action movies, it is a lovely change to get a film that is down to earth and brings a heart-warming feeling to you as you watch it, Lady in the Van is a very enjoyable film. Highly recommended.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
