Alan Bennett wrote a novella and play preceding his screenplay for “The Lady in the Van”. It is based on a “mostly true” story of his own life and his relationship with “The Lady”. Interestingly, he cowrote the aforementioned “A Private Function ” as well. His most famous works include his plays, “The Madness of King George” and “The History Boys”. Alex Jennings is excellent as the young Bennett struggling to write relevant plays while coping with his aging mother and the eccentric woman living in a van in his driveway. Nicholas Hytner ably directs this delightful film and adds this to his adaptation of Bennett’s work to the big screen, having directed “The History Boys” and “The Madness of King George”. “The Crucible” (1996) is among his directorial accomplishments.
The reason to see this film in addition to the sweet, sad story is to sit back and enjoy every moment that Maggie Smith is onscreen. She delivers her lines with such natural ease and can communicate volumes with a curl of her lip or a gaze into one’s eyes.
I was not sure what to expect from this film but I was delighted throughout and so glad that I did not let it pass. It’s not on too many screens but if it shows up I encourage you to jump at the chance. I hope that Maggie Smith will delight us for many years to come.
