For June Squibb, the title describes exactly how she is in this role. At 94, Squibb, who has been on stage or screen for 7 decades, worked with another established actress. First time director, Scarlett Johansson, handles a sensitive story about grief and friendship with a light touch. The screenplay was written by Tory Kamen.
Johansson was sent the script, and drawn to take it after suddenly finding out about her own family’s history from PBS’ host of “Finding Your Roots” Host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. He showed her records of her great grandfather, a Polish Jew, who came to America in 1910 and let her know that all the family he left behind died in the Holocaust. It was a shocking discovery the actress knew nothing about.
Squibb (Thelma, Oscar Nominee for Nebraska, who starred on Broadway in Gypsy) has been a working actress for over 70 years. She was the perfect choice to play Eleanor Morgenstein as a sharp-witted woman with a sense of humor. Eleanor’s best friend, Bessie (Israeli actress, Rita Zohar), is a Holocaust survivor.
Friends for many years, they became roommates after their husbands died. Squibb’s scenes with Zohar create the emotional foundation of the film. Their friendship is filled with joy and laughter, despite the pain and loss both have endured. When Bessie would wake screaming with nightmares of what happened to her family, Eleanor was right there, listening to the details of the family’s horror and loss.
But when her best friend Bessie dies, Eleanor, devastated and alone, is brought by her busy daughter, Lisa (Jessica Hecht) to live with she and her teen grandson, Max (Will Price) in Manhattan. Popping with personality and full of life, Eleanor speakis her mind to family as well as strangers, which sometimes create awkward situations in her new environment.
Busy daughter, Lisa, trying to find something to keep Eleanor busy, suggests Eleanor join the Jewish Community Center to take a class with her contemporaries singing show-tunes. Bored, Eleanor tries to leave and is mistakenly guided into a support group session for Holocaust survivors encouraged to tell their stories. Because of her friendship with Bessie, she is able to spin a tale that captivates everyone, especially a young visiting NYU journalism student Nina (Erin Kellyman – TV’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier). Nina is fascinated, wanting to know more to write about it, befriending Eleanor in the process. Erin’s father, Roger, (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is used sparingly in the script as the surprise twist in the story. His characterization as a distant father may be a little too broad working in media, suddenly interested in his daughter’s new project. Ejiofor is a great actor and here, he is underused.
The structure doesn’t always flow, with some abrupt scene changes, but this is a sensitive, personal story showing uncomfortable aspects of life. Johansson’s first time directing is a promising start deserving more opportunities. At 94, June Squibb is a fountain of boundless energy as the caustic, sarcastic, tender loving Jewish Mother. Together they have created a big cinematic hug.
Sony Pictures Classics 1 Hour 38 Minutes PG-13
Related posts:
Thelma
The Great Wall
Knives Out Writer/Director Rian Johnson talks about having the whole cast on the set
I’m Still Here
Ford v Ferrari Stunt Coordinator, Robert Nagle
Interview with Waves stars Kelvin Harrison, Jr., Taylor Russell and Writer/Director Trey Edward Shults talking teen angst, family and sound design.
