I just finished watching Elsa & Fred and really, really enjoyed myself. However, at the same time I wonder just how many folks will go and see this neat little movie. After all, it's about two very old and rather strange people who find love in their final years...and this sort of thing isn't exactly box office gold. Most romance pictures today involve very young, very beautiful people and not people in their 80s! Frankly...I'm a bit tired of those typical love stories. Some recent films like "Something's Gotta Give", "The Face of Love" and "Elsa & Fred" have all explore relationships with folks who are neither taut, tanned nor twenty-something and I say more power to 'em!
Alfredo is an old widower who has lived a very orderly and unexciting life. His daughter arranges for him to move to a new apartment and his rock-solid retirement plans are upset due to his eccentric neighbor, Elsa. Unlike Alfredo, she is vivacious and full of life--and loves to make up lies about the fantastic life she's led. To put it bluntly, she's a bit of a wacko....but a fun wacko. And, they soon decide to throw caution to the wind and enjoy their final days together.
While the ending is a bit of a downer (I gotta be honest about this), I thoroughly enjoyed the film because these two quirky characters seemed so unlike the people you normally see in movies. They are not walking clichés but older people who have needs, desires and dreams--and who refuse to grow old gracefully! Plummer and MacLaine are simply terrific and it also didn't hurt that they had a very strong supporting cast--which is surprising considering that this is a relatively low-budget film. But, despite the budget, it really doesn't skimp on anything and really delivers. Plus, it made me smile...and not enough movies do that.
By the way, a new American version was just released starring Christopher Plummer and Shirley MacLaine. It's a bit different (Fred is MUCH crankier and the segment in Rome is only talked about AFTER the fact--you don't see them in Rome) but just about as good. Both are terrific and fun.
Alfredo is an old widower who has lived a very orderly and unexciting life. His daughter arranges for him to move to a new apartment and his rock-solid retirement plans are upset due to his eccentric neighbor, Elsa. Unlike Alfredo, she is vivacious and full of life--and loves to make up lies about the fantastic life she's led. To put it bluntly, she's a bit of a wacko....but a fun wacko. And, they soon decide to throw caution to the wind and enjoy their final days together.
While the ending is a bit of a downer (I gotta be honest about this), I thoroughly enjoyed the film because these two quirky characters seemed so unlike the people you normally see in movies. They are not walking clichés but older people who have needs, desires and dreams--and who refuse to grow old gracefully! Plummer and MacLaine are simply terrific and it also didn't hurt that they had a very strong supporting cast--which is surprising considering that this is a relatively low-budget film. But, despite the budget, it really doesn't skimp on anything and really delivers. Plus, it made me smile...and not enough movies do that.
By the way, a new American version was just released starring Christopher Plummer and Shirley MacLaine. It's a bit different (Fred is MUCH crankier and the segment in Rome is only talked about AFTER the fact--you don't see them in Rome) but just about as good. Both are terrific and fun.