Shameless Old Lady, The (1965)

Shameless Old Lady, The (1965)

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“It’s only been six months since the old man died. Now she’s going to the cinema — going to the movies, watching movies, strolling about the city, living it up!”

Synopsis:
Shortly after the death of her husband, an elderly woman (Sylvie) shocks her two grown sons (Etienne Bierry and Francois Maistre) and grandson (Victor Lanoux) by befriending a prostitute (Malka Ribovska) and a shoe store owner (Jean Bouise), and living a much more expansive life.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • Character Arc
  • Elderly People
  • French Films
  • Grown Children
  • Inheritance
  • Strong Females
  • Widows and Widowers

Review:
Based on a short story by Bertolt Brecht and helmed by writer-director René Allio, this character study of a widow gaining a new lease on existence offers an intriguing glimpse into the possibilities of living life on one’s own terms. Although the screenplay takes a while to start rolling, once we see the directions things are headed in, we can’t help but cheer on our protagonist. While Sylvie’s children expect her simply to mourn and continue the life of servitude and frugality she’s always led:

… Sylvie most definitely has her own plans. It turns out she has been quietly taking in the world around her, and little by little, begins to reach out to people she’s intrigued by — including (for reasons unknown) Ribovska:

… and Bouise.

We can tell that she’s enjoying shopping:

… eating out (especially a luxurious dessert!):

… gambling (she asks to learn how horse betting works):

… engaging with intellectual conversations:

… purchasing a car for the first time:

… and, perhaps most important of all, not allowing her kids’ desires, needs, or expectations drive her actions. Sylvie’s tale is a simple but empowering story of second chances, and a reminder that it really is never too late to follow your passions.

Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:

  • Sylvie as Madame Berthe Bertini
  • Good use of location shooting in Marseilles

Must See?
Yes, for Bertini’s performance and as an overall unique show.

Categories

  • Noteworthy Performance(s)

Links:

One thought on “Shameless Old Lady, The (1965)”

  1. First viewing (5/8/21). Not must-see.

    It’s a nice-enough film, more of a mood piece than anything else. I was sort of hoping that the film’s focus would be on the extent that the old woman begins a life of personal enrichment – and that’s true to a degree but it’s under-explored. What she does once she’s a widow is still intertwined with the reality of the lives of her children. All of these events are brush-strokes.

    The most satisfying aspect is the friendship that develops between the old woman and Rosalie, the hooker. But even that is lacking enough detail; it’s just refreshing to watch.

    All told, it’s not a bad film – and thanks to judicious editing it moves along well. It’s just not as memorable as it would probably like to be.

    Still, Sylvie maintains a nice dignity in her approach.

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