Interesting but flawed character study of 2 elderly sisters living in a British seacoast resort town who find a Polish young man who has apparently been shipwrecked.
With a broken ankle, the lad seems to make a rapid movie recovery. It turns out that he is a virtuoso when it comes to playing the violin.
Coincidentally, a visiting neighbor, who speaks German, arouses suspicion by speaking the latter language to him. She wants him to meet her well known musical brother and the doctor, David Warner, notifies the constable, that he suspects some espionage is going on. This film takes place in the late 1930s.
The problem with the film is that the sisters, played nicely by Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, are not able to fully develop their characters. Both are aging in the film and without make-up, they are like a sight for sore eyes. In fact, Smith looks like a thin Michael Caine in drag. We learn that Janet (Smith) was married and a nurse. Her husband died in World War 1. Ursula (Dench) is a typical spinster who seems to fall for the young lad.
The ending shows the difference in classes as well as the age aspects. While it is sad, it reminds us of the reality of life. The film is good but would have been outstanding with a stronger plot and character development.
With a broken ankle, the lad seems to make a rapid movie recovery. It turns out that he is a virtuoso when it comes to playing the violin.
Coincidentally, a visiting neighbor, who speaks German, arouses suspicion by speaking the latter language to him. She wants him to meet her well known musical brother and the doctor, David Warner, notifies the constable, that he suspects some espionage is going on. This film takes place in the late 1930s.
The problem with the film is that the sisters, played nicely by Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, are not able to fully develop their characters. Both are aging in the film and without make-up, they are like a sight for sore eyes. In fact, Smith looks like a thin Michael Caine in drag. We learn that Janet (Smith) was married and a nurse. Her husband died in World War 1. Ursula (Dench) is a typical spinster who seems to fall for the young lad.
The ending shows the difference in classes as well as the age aspects. While it is sad, it reminds us of the reality of life. The film is good but would have been outstanding with a stronger plot and character development.