Ladies in Lavender (2004)

Two sisters befriend a mysterious foreigner who washes up on the beach of their 1930's Cornish seaside village.

Director:

Charles Dance

Writers:

William J. Locke (short story), Charles Dance

Stars:

Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Daniel Brühl

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Judi Dench	...	Ursula
Maggie Smith	...	Janet
Daniel Brühl	...	Andrea
Freddie Jones	...	Jan Pendered
Gregor Henderson-Begg	...	Luke Pendered
Miriam Margolyes	...	Dorcas
David Warner	...	Dr. Francis Mead
Clive Russell	...	Adam Penruddocke
Richard Pears	...	Barry
Natascha McElhone	...	Olga Daniloff
Iain Marshall	...	Fisherman (as Ian Marshall)
Toby Jones	...	Hedley
Trevor Ray	...	Very Old Man 1
John Boswall	...	Very Old Man 2
Joanna Dickens	...	Mrs. Pendered

Storyline

Taking place in pre-war England, aging sisters Ursula and Janet live peacefully in their cottage on the shore of Cornwall. One morning following a violent storm, the sisters spot from their garden a nearly-drowned man lying on the beach. They nurse him back to health, and discover that he is Polish. Communicating in broken German while they teach him English, they learn his name is Andrea and that he is a particularly gifted violinist. His boat was on its way to America, where he is headed to look for a better life. It doesn't take long for them to become attached to Andrea, and they dote on him. Other townspeople, however, have their suspicions, especially when he befriends a Russian woman, Olga.

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Plot Keywords:

suspicion | russian | violinist | cornwall | violin | 

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Taglines:

They saved a stranger from the sea and in return he stole their hearts.

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Genres:

Drama | Music | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language

Details

Official Sites:

Filmax [Spain]

Country:

UK

Language:

English German Polish French

Release Date:

27 May 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

A levendula illata

Filming Locations:

Cadgwith, Cornwall, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£423,313 (United Kingdom), 14 November 2004, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$149,224, 1 May 2005, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$6,759,422, 30 October 2005

Company Credits

Production Co:

UK Film Council, Baker Street, Future Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min 103 min (theatrical)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Charles Dance mentioned in his Production Diary that whilst they were casting, he got a phone call from Freddie Jones (who played Jan Pendered), who, having received the script, said "P**s-poor part, but I'll do it because I'm in love with Judi Dench."

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Goofs

After having his portrait Portrait drawn by Olga. Andrea walks out with his violin under his arm upon, arriving back to the sister's house he opens the door with both hands the violin is unseen. Andrea goes upstairs and his heard playing the violin.

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Quotes

Ursula Widdington: [Referring to the whole fish that Janet has cooked] Don't you think they look a bit sad?
Janet Widdington: Not at all

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Crazy Credits

Special thanks to the people of Helston, Cornwall and the people of Cadgwith, Cornwall.

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Connections

Referenced in Clatterford: Episode #2.1 (2008)

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Soundtracks

Camborne Hill
Traditional

User Reviews

I love this movie

For some reason, I dvr'd this movie the other day, because I love the Dames Maggie Smith and Judi Dench. I didn't watch it until last night. I started at 1am and watched the whole thing, even though I was exhausted. I am an old romantic.

At the beginning, my friend and I just couldn't figure out what was wrong with Ursula and we figured out she was falling in love with the boy. Wow! It was so obvious after a while, and I reminisced about the time I fell in love with someone so much younger than me. It was a treat to see Maggie Smith, trying to protect and comfort her sister in her obvious agony of the just impossible love she was feeling for the boy. How sad.

The end was a poignant and subtle end to a fabulous SHORT story. I actually thought they were in the islands off the southern coast.. I believe they are Jersey.. (like "The Others", and didn't realize it was pre-WWII, hence the hint at all of the Britons suspicions of Germans at the time.

What a fabulous story. I absolutely loved it!.