Directed by : Anthony Fabian

Them days are over when you can treat people like scum and expect loyalty in return.

Lesley Manville in a still from 'Mrs Harris Goes to Paris'

Spoilers ahead.. 


Ada Harris (Lesley Manville), a widowed and very kind lady works as a cleaner at some houses. One day she sees a gorgeous dress that one of her owner bought for a marriage, which she immediately falls in love with. Being a dreamer she wants to buy a similar couture Dior dress. Once she arranges the money in different unusual possible ways, she heads off to Paris that would not only be an adventure but also change the way House of Dior works. 

The idea of wanting to go to a country despite not having money just for a dress felt crazy to me, but on a second thought I felt everyone have their own dreams and probably Ada Harris was to wear one of those gorgeous outfits that she otherwise never gets to wear, specially not been young anymore. Like my dream is to have a PlayStation which may sound silly or not worthy for others.

There are many times I wrong guessed the narrative, like the dog race I thought she would get again lucky or when she reaches Paris and seeks help from stranger guys to reach the House of Dior and I was worried her money is about to be stolen when she wakes in the morning. So glad, the film never went in these directions. 

The main two themes, kindness and dreamer are fully well explored thanks to the adorable performance from Lesley Manville. She is so good that in some scenes you just wish she wouldn't be so kind whether its to that house owner who keeps finding excuses not to pay her salary, or that young spoilt brat who is selfish. Love her change of tone in the scene when she misunderstands the guy who came to give pension money after learning about her husband's death few days back. 

Apart from the obvious visuals including Eiffel Tower, the Paris scenes are great to watch for the detailing shown regarding the work at 'House of Dior'. Again, the same thought came to mind when I saw people bidding sit for some 100 dresses modelled around and then choosing the one they wanna buy. Does this happen in real ? Is that a rich society thing ? I am probably not right person to talk about fashion yet I was all the time engaged in how this works, the kind of uneasiness Claudine Colbert (an excellent Isabelle Huppert) feels when Ada Harris comes unannounced because to see a cleaning lady try to buy such expensive dress full of reputation was very new. That is shown through the happy reaction of the models who are pleased to know how much Dior is wanted.

Ada Harris interactions with all the people she meets in Paris, and immediately forming a bond is great to watch. There's Andre Fauvel (Lucas Bravo), who she helps professionally for the inputs that would help Dior succeed in longer run among the modern woman, and also personally his secret love for one of the models Natasha (Alba Baptista). She has a lovely equation with Marquis de Chassagne (Lambert Wilson) that includes a heartbreaking scene, probably you can argue that Ada got little carried away.

Both Ellen Thomas and Jason Isaacs are good in their supporting acts, always around to comfort Ada Harris whenever she feels low. It was easy to guess the ending would be on a dance between Archie and Ada. 

The hiccups for me were how quickly the conflicts are sorted out in span of a small scene, whether its Claudine Colbert's change of heart, or how the main head of 'House of Dior' immediately agrees to the ideas of Andre Fauvel. And, the romantic train scene to stop Natasha from leaving was very filmy (it would had been airport if it was Indian film). 

Overall, Mrs Harris Goes to Paris is one of those sweet movies that I enjoy watching even though its not the kind of genre I usually prefer.

My Rating : 7/10