Need LOL Film Recommendations

[tyellas]

My LOL, in her new state of increased sedentariness, has become a film buff.

My loan of Cold Comfort Farm last week was such a success that she asked me to choose another film for her. I Capture The Castle is this week's selection.

Except that I am coming to the end of my shallow film knowledge and I need recommendations!

She's already seen most Jane Austen films, Annie Get Your Gun, etc. And Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day. She likes gentle period romances/dramas, especially British-flavored (excuse me, flavOURed) ones. Things with wide-eyed child protagonists would also be good. No subtitles, because she can't read them with her old-eyes vision on her small TV; no animation (a pity when I think of Studio Ghibli, but I did ask). I may try her on E.T., come to think of it.

Comments

[maureenlycaon.livejournal.com]

Has she seen The Secret Garden yet?

[tyellas.livejournal.com]

What a great idea, thank you!

[dianavilliers.livejournal.com]

Does she like mysteries? If so, I can recommend the Foyle's War series, about a detective in wartime England - some lovely characters, and they're available from the Welly public library.

[tyellas.livejournal.com]

That sounds ideal!

[sauced-again.livejournal.com]

I loved Mrs. Henderson Presents -- Judi Dench, WWII era London.

From imdb:

Laura Henderson buys an old London theater and opens it up as the Windmill, a performance hall which goes down in history for, among other things, its all-nude revues.

[tyellas.livejournal.com]

But of course! The lingerie scenes in "Cold Comfort Farm" and "Miss Pettigrew" didn't freak her out, so...

[(Anonymous)]

Ladies in Lavender, also with Dame Judy. My mom loved that, and she's an LOL, with LOLish tastes.
Songcatcher was good, though the subject matter of American Appalachian music may be obscure.
Will she take to the great host of Hugh Grantly films out there?
All the Jane Austen movies? There's a terrific late 90's version of Persuasion with Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds.

[tyellas.livejournal.com]

I was surprised at the extent of her Jane Austen film viewing.

Myself, I'm that rara avis, NOT a major Austen fan. Though perhaps I should get her the BBC version of Vanity Fair as a counterpoint...I love that book, but I didn't think much of Reese Witherspoon's version.

[rednikki.livejournal.com]

Hope and Glory? That has a wide-eyed child protagonist, although it may have some dark bits (I can't 100% remember, unfortunately).

Other suggestions (thanks, Netflix algorythm!):
- Little Voice (pops up as a related item for every film you noted)
- Enchanted April
- A Room With a View
- Mrs. Brown
- Notting Hill (not period, but gentle and British)
- Topsy-Turvy (British, period, funny, but not romantic)
- Gregory's Girl

Also, how about classic Ealing comedies like The Man in the White Suit?

[tyellas.livejournal.com]

This'll keep us going for WEEKS! Mrs. Brown - why didn't I think of that?

LOL films

[ewen]

The one that immediately came to mind was "Fried Green Tomatoes", although it's only "period drama" if the period you have in mind is 1950s America. "The Princess Bride" and "E.T." would fit the child protagonists front. As perhaps would "Whale Rider", although it's aimed at a slightly older audience than "The Princess Bride" and "E.T.". (I have all of these on DVD, which you'd be welcome to borrow.)

Ewen

PS: If "small TV" is a matter of lack of opportunity rather than lack of space, I have a not-quite-so-small-TV available...

Re: LOL films

[ewen]

Also "The World's Fastest Indian" might squeak into the "period" category, and is a charming "small town" film for all it's (also) about fast vehicles.

Ewen

Re: LOL films

[bekitty.livejournal.com]

And in keeping with the Sir Anthony Hopkins trend, may I suggest Shadowlands? It's the story of C.S. Lewis and his relationship with Joy Gresham and her young son Douglas. I remember it being very beautifully acted and filmed.

Also, she might like the Merchant Ivory films. A Room with a View is one, but there are quite a few others. Their Wikipedia entry is here.

You could also try for anything with Simon Callow in it. Shakespeare in Love and Bedrooms and Hallways are fantastic.

Re: LOL films

[tyellas.livejournal.com]

She hasn't got much space...this TV...how big?

Re: LOL films

[ewen]

21" CRT. So not gigantic, but also not a tiny portable TV. Quite decent to watch DVDs on from across a smallish room (it was what I bought it for a few years back), but now surplus to requirements. Yours if it's useful.

Ewen

Re: LOL films

[tyellas.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm! I will inquire! Very generous of you and MUCH appreciated!

Re: LOL films

[ewen]

Do note that it's a CRT (ie, old style TV), so has nearly as much depth as it does height/width. It's probably still small enough to, eg, sit on a dresser, chest of drawers, etc. But it'd take most of the dresser.

Anyway like I said, yours if it's wanted.

Ewen

[bekitty.livejournal.com]

Also, Calendar Girls is brilliant.

[tyellas.livejournal.com]

Oooh, all wonderful, thank you!

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

You could go back a bit for "A Room With A View".

[tyellas.livejournal.com]

That's the second? third? recommendation for that one, it MUST be good...

[telperion1.livejournal.com]

Has she seen A River Runs Through It? One of my all time faves. Some other good period-ish pieces with children or young adults that pop to mind are Perfect Harmony and School Days.

[tyellas.livejournal.com]

I'll check these out, thank you!

[snottygrrl.livejournal.com]

she might enjoy the kings speech but i don't know if it's available in your part of the world on dvd yet. wide-eyed children leads me to the narnia series, with national pride of weta's creatures/armour. how's she feel about musicals? because that would open up a raft of judy garland/gene kelly etc (several of which the wellington library has). granted not british flavoured, but fun. harry potter? daniel certainly is wide-eyed for the first three anyway. importance of being earnest? maybe chocolat? um, let's see, becoming jane or maybe the jane austen book club if she's a big jane fan. oh, and i don't know when the new jane eyre will be out on dvd, but it's absolutely brilliant.

[tyellas.livejournal.com]

We actually went and saw The King's Speech in the theater when it came out - she was well enough.

Movies

[ewen]

I'd second "Becoming Jane" if she hasn't seen it. And on a similar sort of theme, "Miss Potter" which is both period and about cute children's books -- it's made of win. I suspect Wellington library would have both of these, but it may be as cheap to rent them from Your New DVD Store (tm).

Ewen

[gilraen-surion.livejournal.com]

If she likes Austen -try the Bronte sisters as well.
Wuthering Heights and the latest Jane Eyre
As for Austen has she seen Northanger Abbey and persuasion as well? Many people only see the top three.
You could try something Shakepeare on her the romantic comedies
Also check out the BBC shop for ideas. Period Drama is their forte and a lot will be carried in libraries. http://tinyurl.com/6e53zjx

On a different note: Beaches with Bette Midler is one of my all time favs.

[tyellas.livejournal.com]

All excellent! Thank you so much, m'dear.

[usuakari.livejournal.com]

Try something a little more challenging (with a hypnotic score) and throw The Hours her way?

If you're still going with the slightly gentler period thing, I can second Foyle's War. It's very good, and there's enough to keep her going for some time.

[tyellas.livejournal.com]

She can't even deal with slightly difficult crosswords, so I'm really trying to keep it lighter/gentler. Thanks for the Foyle's War confirmation!

[ithilwen.livejournal.com]

Two more suggestions: Finding Neverland and The Whales of August.