Written by: Carroll Cartwright, Anthony Fabian, Keith Thompson, Olivia Hetreed
Starring: Lesley Manville, Isabelle Huppert, Lambert Wilson, Alba Baptista, Lucas Bravo
Rating: [4/5]
Everyone who works wants to earn enough to make their ends meet and then at least enjoy some of the luxuries life has to offer. Depending on how much one makes will dictate the degree and the amount of luxury they can indulge in. Cleaning ladies like Ada in Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris usually do not get to wade in the circle of Parisian high fashion, but with her can-do attitude, she makes it work in this magnificently sweet film filled with so much heart and enough charm to melt the hearts of even the biggest cynics.
Consistently delivering excellent work as a cleaning lady, Ada (Lesley Manville) becomes obsessed with a Dior dress one of her clients owns. Determined to save up to buy one herself, she makes her way over to Paris, and despite having the requisite cash to buy a dress, she faces obstacles when the director of Dior, Claudine (Isabelle Huppert), attempts to refuse her because Ada does not belong.
Films like Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris do not come along often, as movies centered on unbridled kindness usually do not present the most captivating plot that makes them an undeniable watch. However, when done well, such as this one, it warms the heart in such a manner that leaves quite the impression. Ada’s journey does not have the highest stakes in the world, as it centers on her obtaining a dress she desperately longs for, but this little luxury carries such importance for her. This, along with her general positivity and warmth, even manages to warm the hearts of the French. Quite a feat given this film certainly plays into the stereotypes of them as cold and snooty snobs.
While Ada’s path to this dress does not have the highest stakes, it means plenty to her on an emotional level as she sees the funds she has received to make it there as a gift from her late husband, who died while at war. Obtaining this dress carries so much importance to her, and she will stop at nothing to get it. The best comparison to relate this character to another is with Paddington, where Ada’s general loveliness not only leads to great things happening to her but also to everyone else around her. We see this in the way she helps the Dior accountant, André (Lucas Bravo), speak up for himself both in his professional and personal life. Everyone in this film who gets to know Ada has their life improved, and while it does not make for the most compelling story, at times it’s the story we need.
As much as our lead character maintains a focus on this dress and helping others along the way, the film does make a commentary on high fashion and who it belongs to. The central conflict that Ada must overcome lies in Claudine, the director of the brand, who sees it as something only attainable for individuals of a certain class and socioeconomic status. While André believes the brand should be accessible to anyone who can afford it, like Ada, Claudine very much argues for the exclusivity. She believes if a housekeeper can come in, purchase, and wear a Dior dress, then that does not signify an image others should aspire for. An intriguing distinction and one many brands have needed to question as they try to survive in an ever-changing consumer landscape. Relying solely on a small group of individuals with deep pockets puts them in a precarious situation, as seen in this story with Dior’s struggling financial position.
With all of the French snobs surrounding this film, Lesley Manville ensures this film reaches its highest potential. The utter delight she imbues into every single scene of this movie was truly wonderful. She has this magnetism to her that allows the other actors within the film to bounce off of her quite well. Her position as the focal point puts her in the place to sell not only the joy she brings to the story but also the emotionally moving scenes where her vulnerability comes through in moments of hurt. She becomes one of the easiest characters to root for in all of cinema, and Manville’s performance is one of the reasons why.
Such an enjoyable and loving story all wrapped up in a production showcasing some beautiful gowns, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris centers on a woman simply trying to buy a dress. However, while she undergoes this trial, she changes the entire trajectory of not just the individuals around her back home and in Paris, but evidently also an entire internationally famous brand. Yes, this film does not push the envelope or present anything necessarily earth-shattering, but it delivers an injection of positivity in a world that could use some of it once in a while.
Films with Josh 
