In Mrs Harris Goes to Paris, we are introduced to Mrs. Harris (Lesley Manville), a cleaning lady in post-war London. She awaits news regarding her husband’s fate in World War II. The news she dreads eventually arrives, coinciding with her witnessing a beautiful and exceptionally expensive Couture dress in a client’s home. Inspired, Mrs. Harris resolves to save her earnings and journey to Paris to acquire her own Christian Dior dress. This marks the beginning of a transformative experience and a truly remarkable trip to Paris.
Upon viewing Mrs Harris Goes to Paris, the initial impression was that it was a refreshing departure from adaptations and remakes. However, a quick search revealed that the film is based on the 1958 novel, Mrs. ‘Arris Goes to Paris, and had previously been adapted in 1992 starring Angela Lansbury. Regardless, the film’s location shooting provided a welcome change from reliance on green screen technology. Unfortunately, a subsequent scene at a race track features noticeably subpar visual effects. The audience on the left appears as low-resolution, animated figures moving in slow motion. This detracts from the overall viewing experience and highlights a prevalent issue in contemporary filmmaking.
Despite this, Mrs Harris Goes to Paris is a well-executed and charming story. With three additional books featuring Mrs. Harris, the prospect of seeing Lesley Manville reprise her role in future adaptations is appealing. Manville’s performance is perfectly suited to the character, adeptly balancing Mrs. Harris’s persona and preventing her from becoming a caricature through her nuanced portrayal. Notably, there is a particularly poignant sequence that stands out due to its exceptional acting.
While I have not read the source material, I am aware of the narrative deviations implemented in the film adaptation. Without revealing specific plot details, it can be stated that the altered ending is a significant improvement over the book’s conclusion. The film’s ending feels appropriate and avoids excessive sentimentality.
Mrs Harris Goes to Paris is not available on UHD in Sweden, nor does it appear to be available internationally. However, the Blu-ray edition presents a stable and vibrant image. Black levels are deep, and the bitrate is sufficiently high. The audio is presented in 5.1 DTS Master Audio, which is adequate for this film, as it is not heavily reliant on sound effects. The sound design provides clear dialogue and a well-balanced ambience. Regrettably, as with recent Universal Blu-ray releases, the disc lacks supplementary material, which is a significant omission.
In conclusion, Mrs Harris Goes to Paris is a recommended viewing experience due to its engaging and heartwarming story, which incorporates several unexpected plot developments. The absence of bonus features is disappointing, as additional insight into the film’s production would have been appreciated.
SF Studios provided the review copy for this assessment. The provision of review materials does not influence our editorial independence. Our reviews are conducted autonomously, with a focus on providing unbiased information to our readers and consumers.
