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ComedyDrama

The Lady in the Van

- A mostly true story

The true story of the relationship between Alan Bennett and the singular Miss Shepherd, a woman of uncertain origins who ‘temporarily’ parked her van in Bennett’s London driveway and proceeded to live there for 15 years.

Release Date : 2015-10-30

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : BBC FilmTriStar Pictures

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Maggie Smith

Character Name : Miss Shepherd

Original Name : Maggie Smith

Gender : Female

Alex Jennings

Character Name : Alan Bennett

Original Name : Alex Jennings

Gender : Male

Frances de la Tour

Character Name : Ursula Vaughan Williams

Original Name : Frances de la Tour

Gender : Female

Gwen Taylor

Character Name : Mam

Original Name : Gwen Taylor

Gender : Female

Dominic Cooper

Character Name : Theatre Actor

Original Name : Dominic Cooper

Gender : Male

James Corden

Character Name : Street Trader

Original Name : James Corden

Gender : Male

Roger Allam

Character Name : Rufus

Original Name : Roger Allam

Gender : Male

Samuel Anderson

Character Name : Jehovah's Witness

Original Name : Samuel Anderson

Gender : Male

Dermot Crowley

Character Name : Priest

Original Name : Dermot Crowley

Gender : Male

Jim Broadbent

Character Name : Underwood

Original Name : Jim Broadbent

Gender : Male

Stephen Campbell Moore

Character Name : Doctor

Original Name : Stephen Campbell Moore

Gender : Male

Eleanor Matsuura

Character Name : American Journalist

Original Name : Eleanor Matsuura

Gender : Female

Sacha Dhawan

Character Name : Doctor Malik

Original Name : Sacha Dhawan

Gender : Male

Samuel Barnett

Character Name : Donald

Original Name : Samuel Barnett

Gender : Male

Deborah Findlay

Character Name : Pauline

Original Name : Deborah Findlay

Gender : Female

David Calder

Character Name : Mr. Fairchild

Original Name : David Calder

Gender : Male

Elliot Levey

Character Name : Theatre Director

Original Name : Elliot Levey

Gender : Male

Claire Foy

Character Name : Lois, Social Worker

Original Name : Claire Foy

Gender : Female

Pandora Colin

Character Name : Mrs. Perry

Original Name : Pandora Colin

Gender : Female

Marion Bailey

Character Name : Convent Housekeeper

Original Name : Marion Bailey

Gender : Female

Russell Tovey

Character Name : Young Man with Earring

Original Name : Russell Tovey

Gender : Male

Rosalind Knight

Character Name : Old Nun

Original Name : Rosalind Knight

Gender : Female

Jamie Parker

Character Name : Estate Agent

Original Name : Jamie Parker

Gender : Male

Geoffrey Streatfeild

Character Name : Alan's Partner

Original Name : Geoffrey Streatfeild

Gender : Male

June Watson

Character Name : Woman at Day Centre

Original Name : June Watson

Gender : Female

George Taylor

Character Name : Policeman

Original Name : George Taylor

Gender : Male

Richard Banks

Character Name : Neighbour

Original Name : Richard Banks

Gender : Male

Aaron Neil

Character Name : Grocer

Original Name : Aaron Neil

Gender : Male

Jessica Bastick-Vines

Character Name : Pauline and Rufus' Daughter

Original Name : Jessica Bastick-Vines

Gender : Male

Cecilia Noble

Character Name : Miss Briscoe

Original Name : Cecilia Noble

Gender : Female

Clare Hammond

Character Name : Young Miss Shephard

Original Name : Clare Hammond

Gender : Male

Sam McArdle

Character Name : The Biker

Original Name : Sam McArdle

Gender : Male

Giles Cooper

Character Name : Passer-By

Original Name : Giles Cooper

Gender : Male

Sam Spruell

Character Name : Another Young Man

Original Name : Sam Spruell

Gender : Male

Harriet Thorpe

Character Name : Customer

Original Name : Harriet Thorpe

Gender : Female

Nicholas Burns

Character Name : Giles Perry

Original Name : Nicholas Burns

Gender : Male

Alan Bennett

Character Name : Alan Bennett (2014)

Original Name : Alan Bennett

Gender : Male

Andrew Knott

Character Name : Ambulance Man

Original Name : Andrew Knott

Gender : Male

Selina Cadell

Character Name : Lady Wiggin

Original Name : Selina Cadell

Gender : Female

Giles Cooper

Character Name : Passer-by

Original Name : Giles Cooper

Gender : Male

Reviews

R

Reno

@Rangan

2024-05-16

> According to her guidance, this is where it should go! Her legend continues. I was talking about Maggie Smith, she's 82 years old and still her performances can compete with younger generation actors. The story was narrated from someone's perspective about the role she played, that's why it's little weakened, otherwise if she was in solo, it would have been an Oscar worthy. Incidentally, that someone was an actual writer, so the film ended up portraying her very well, beside himself. Inspired by the real story of an old lady who lived in a van for the 15 years during the 70s in the London's residential driveways. This film tells the mystery behind the state of her condition and actions. Actually, I expected it to be like 'Little Miss Sunshine', a road film, but after learning it was a biopic I am impressed with the overall movie. An heartfully enjoyable comedy-drama with a small suspense in the plot. In fact, the whole film developed pretty well because of the opening event that hidden from us to reveal at the conclusion. It was a bit of fantasy as well, especially the end was too much of it. On the Mary Shepard character, it reminded me Mrs. Julia Wicket from the Mr. Bean's animated series. Similar kind of attitude like don't care about others, especially when everyone around her showing some kind of respect and care, she was more a sceptical for us. The film was shot in the real locations. That was an advantage for filmmaking, and for us to witness from very close to the original. 8/10

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-05-10

As the writer himself acknowledges at the end, he's augmented this a little but most of it is already the stuff you couldn't make up! He buys a new home in a well-to-do street in London's Camden only to find the area "blighted" by a curmudgeonly and smelly old woman who lives out of her rusting old van. When it comes time for her to move on, she ends up parked outside his new home and prevails upon him to use his facilities. That's just the start of a friendship that develops over fifteen years in which Bennett (Alex Jennings) discovers that this is an interesting and talented lady. It's quite easy to make judgements about her (Dame Maggie Smith) in the beginning, but as we go along we begin to realise that her supposed temporary existence has come to suit her perfectly, even if it does irritate her more respectable neighbours. The story of their relationship is told by the renowned playwright talking to himself much of the time and this series of conversations questions not just her existence but his own too. His narration is witty, perceptive and entertainingly expressive and the whole thing is enigmatically topped off by an actor who seems to be having an whale of a time portraying a woman of true character. It is a little bit long and does rather run out of steam towards the inevitable conclusion, but it does make you stop and think a little about homelessness, ageing and just how satisfying life can (or cannot) be.