Actually, I think you've missed the whole point of the movie. Although most of the film does portray a nasty old lady, the truth is that most of her family members are just a bunch of hypocrites and she simply can't stand people being nice to her simply because she's old. They do not respect her, they pretend that they do, but they don't. The movie is a veiled criticism to the hypocrisy of those family ties. I liked her character from the very first minute because she's honest in the sense that she knows very well that those around her simply can't stand her nor do they respect her will to live and be free. Highly recommended.