“Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” Review
Mrs. Ada Harris (Lesley Manville) falls in love with a Christian Dior dress which propels her on her own journey to France in “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris.”
Certain kinds of films aren’t just entertaining, they’re comforting. Whether they have likable characters, a warm atmosphere or a sense of nostalgia, certain films just manage to make one feel cozy including the work of Nora Ephron, “Forrest Gump” and “The Princess Bride.” One such film that has recently hit theaters is the ever-endearing “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” which is as delightful as it is welcoming.
In 1957, the titular Ada Harris (Lesley Manville) spends her days as a maid in London mourning the loss of her husband in WWII. Aside from the company of her friends, she has few things in her life she can take comfort in. Until one day when she spots a luxurious Christian Dior gown. After saving enough money, Mrs. Harris goes to the Dior fashion house in Paris where she enchants some of the residents and dodges obstacles which keep her from what she desires.
This is the kind of film that is simply not made. “Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris” feels like it was written for someone like Audrey Hepburn, Julie Andrews, Grace Kelly or Marilyn Monroe. In 2022, Lesley Manville brings all the charm of past movie stars as she portrays one of the most charming characters of the year. She’s just beaming with love.
Her optimism is only matched by her determination to have this dress. It’s a simple yet extravagant desire that most people can identify with. We may not all want a Dior gown but we all want something and to see someone else pursue that and carry on with a smile is inspirational.
The supporting characters are also quite remarkable because of the fine balance between romanticism and realism. There’s a whole slew of commonly seen archetypes (the stick-in-the-mud, the snooty high-society types, the hard working dreamer who can save the day, the lost soul) which populate this film but they’re not tiring because they’re well-acted and are given depth.
One such character is Natasha (Alba Baptista), a Dior model who would rather study philosophy. Natasha doesn’t just go on and on about how she hates her job nor does she only have just one scene where she talks about it. It’s all shown in her actions. Even when Natasha is at film premieres or modeling beautiful dresses, there’s this subtle look of unfulfillment which makes this character better than she needed to be.
Even those that doubt Mrs. Harris are given precious development. They’re not flat, villainous caricatures.
Further adding to the comforting nature of this film is how beautiful it looks. The colors and setting all just scream warmth. I haven’t seen Paris look this gorgeous since films like “Before Sunset,” “Julie & Julie” or “Ratatouille.” Director Anthony Fabian has constructed a film as lovely as the inventory of Dior.
“Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” is one of those films that exists to uplift and inspire and it does so admirably. This could have easily been a cliched mess but it’s a journey of self-discovery that feels as honest and loving as the main character.
