My Old Lady (2014)

An American inherits an apartment in Paris that comes with an unexpected resident.

Director:

Israel Horovitz

Writers:

Israel Horovitz (play), Israel Horovitz (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Kevin Kline, Kristin Scott Thomas, Maggie Smith

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kevin Kline	...	Mathias Gold
Michel Burstin	...	Rabbi on Bicycle
Elie Wajeman	...	Man at Gate
Maggie Smith	...	Mathilde Girard
Raphaële Moutier	...	Woman on Bicycle
Sophie Touitou	...	Female Opera Singer
Dominique Pinon	...	Auguste Lefebvre
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Chloé Girard
Christian Rauth	...	Furniture Dealer
Delphine Lanson	...	Femme de Ménage
Noémie Lvovsky	...	Dr. Florence Horowitz
Stéphane De Groodt	...	Philippe
Jean-Christophe Allais	...	Jean-Christophe
Jocelyne Vignon	...	Chef
Nathalie Bernas	...	Younger Kissing Couple

Storyline

Mathias Gold (Kevin Kline), a penniless fifty-odd-year-old New Yorker, lands in Paris. Cynical, and at the end of his tether, he looks forward to selling the mansion house his late father owned in the Marais district. But what he finds out there just appalls him: his secretive dad had never told him he had acquired the property as a life lease, a typically French custom of which he never heard. As a consequence, not only will poor Mathias be unable to sell the house into cash (at least as long as Mathilde Girard (Dame Maggie Smith) stays alive), but he will have to pay the old lady a pension as part of the bargain.

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Plot Keywords:

apartment | dysfunctional family | cheating husband | cheating wife | selling an apartment | 

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Taglines:

He's in the will. She's in the way.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic material and some sexual references

Did You Know?

Trivia

MPAA certificate # 48915.

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Goofs

Lefebvre says he bought his boat with a viager and that he was lucky because the owner died six days later. Under French law the seller must live for at least 20 days after the contracts are signed.

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Quotes

Mathias Gold: Is that why he shot and stuffed all those animals,so he wouldn't have to shoot and stuff your mother?
Chloé Girard: Or your father.

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Crazy Credits

Midway through the credits, Mathias reveals his final decision on what he will do with the apartment and why. Additionally, after the end credits Mathias asks LeFebvre where he learned to speak English.

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Connections

References Gone with the Wind (1939)

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Soundtracks

(It's Not Exactly a Sonata) For Renata
Written by Paul Mehling
Performed by Paul Mehling - solo guitar
Courtesy of HCSF Records

User Reviews

Surprising

Were it not for the fact that I had already read reviews, I would have been shocked by this movie, because it was not, in fact, a comedy. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the film. It is neither light nor heavy, but rather the perfect balance.

It addressed the fact that there is no 'following your heart' or doing whatever feels right to you, without affecting other people. Mostly, there will be negative consequences/effects, but when you and the people around you open yourselves to truth, no matter how difficult, healing comes and eventually, a positive effect. I highly recommend this movie.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

UK France USA

Language:

English French Italian

Release Date:

21 November 2014 (UK)

Also Known As:

My Old Lady

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$124,680, 14 September 2014

Gross USA:

$4,013,786

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$10,606,667

Company Credits

Production Co:

Katsize Films, BBC Films, Cohen Media Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1