First Take: The Lady in the Van- surely it gets too cold during the winter

Plot in simpler terms- a (mostly) true story about a pensioner setting up her house (a van) in the driveway of writer Alan Bennett’s home in Camden for 15 years

So, two reviews in two days. This is a very funny film, however it does raise some questions about mental health towards the ending. It’s very well written by Alan Bennett himself, with some of the best dialogue I have heard in a film for a long time. Performance wise, Dame Maggie Smith is just brilliant as Mary Shepherd- could she be tipped for Bafta glory in the most unconventional role? Possibly. It’s shot with flair and the score is subtle. However, the plot can confuse some audiences and some jokes are very much visual. This film could be a contender for Best British Film.

Smit Rating- 4/5