–

We went to this film both for the music and because I’m a Maggie Smith fan. Movies about older people are few and far between. This film distinguishes itself by telling a different part of the story of life than we usually see, and this is a refreshing change.

The setting, the cast, and the music are all wonderful, but knowing your opera well would definitely be an asset to fully appreciating everything this film has to offer. I would rank it a bit shy of four stars, mostly because I’m unable to laugh at infirmities and the claims of aging.

However, I do applaud the message of involvement this story affirms in the elderly. Also, my hat is off to Dustin Hoffman for a great job directing his first movie (this one) at the young age of 75.

–