Mrs Harris Goes To Paris is a 1950s period piece directed by Anthony Fabian, about English housekeeper Ada Harris (Oscar nominee Lesley Manville), whose newfound dream of owning her very own Dior dress leads her to the House of Dior in Paris. Coming to terms with the loss of her husband after the war, Ada throws caution to the wind, and takes life one day at a time while living out her wildest fantasies.
This heartwarming story centres around a character with a heart of gold, and is both honest and real – two things that may surprise you when the story is based on a piece of fiction. The film, based on a novel by American author Paul Gallico (The Snow Goose), is a love letter to the House of Dior, revolving around the famous haute couture and highlighting both the elegance and squalor of Paris in the 50s.
Ada encounters many friends on her journey including the disdainful Claudine Colbert (Oscar nominee Isabelle Huppert), the gentleman Marquis de Chassagne (Lambert Wilson), and the existentialists André Fauvel (Lucas Bravo) and Natasha (Alba Baptista). Paired alongside her friends at home, Archie (Jason Isaacs) and best friend Vi Butterfield (Ellen Thomas), it’s easy to forget the magic of Paris and get caught up in the magic that is Mrs Harris and all that she does for others.
This feel-good film is so much more than a story about a dress – even if the unsung hero of this story is Oscar-winning costume designer Jenny Beavan (A Room With A View, Mad Max, Cruella). The enchanting flick sweeps you away to another world – as any good book (or movie) can. Coming to theatres 27 October, we highly recommend spending some time with Mrs Harris and friends.