Eleanor The Great is a cosy, intergenerational story of friendship starring the ever-lovely June Squibb, the 95-year-old actress who was previously in Cannes for Alexander Payne’s Nebraska, which won her an Oscar nomination. Here, she plays Eleanor, a 94-year-old Jewish mother and grandmother living in Florida, whose best friend Bessie (Rita Zohar) dies shortly after the story begins. A resident of the Bronx for 40 years back in the day, she returns to New York to live with her daughter Lisa (Jessica Hecht) and grandson Max (Will Price).
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Gradually, the two becomes friends. Nina, who lives with her father Roger (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a presenter on a TV news show called ‘The Fabric of New York’, is also dealing with grief. Her mother died in an accident, and clearly Roger has not been there for her, instead sinking himself into his work. Soon, stirred up by memories that aren’t even her own, Eleanor is re-investing in her Jewish faith, even having her own Bat Mitzvah.
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Die My Love review: Jennifer Lawrence is superb in this absorbing and quietly devastating dramaThe Phoenician Scheme review: Wes Anderson's latest is a quaint tale of industrial espionageEddington review: Ari Aster's latest is thematically rich but overlongJohansson directs in an unfussy manner, with a strong sense of place and character. The very first scene sees Eleanor in her pink rollers and turquoise dressing gown, but there is never any notion that she is mocking those in their advancing years. The actress clearly loves her characters, and gently pushes the story along, even if it’s not the most earth-shattering narrative you’ll ever see.
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