Written by Anthony Fabian, Carroll Cartwright, Keith Thompson, Olivia Hetreed (screenplay) and Paul Gallico (novel)
Directed by Anthony Fabian
Starring: Lesley Manville, Jason Isaacs, Ellen Thomas, Alba Baptista, Isabelle Huppert, and Lucas Bravo
Running time 1 hour and 55 minutes
MPAA Rating PG for Language, suggestive material and smoking
In theaters Friday, July 15

by Rosalie Kicks, Editor in Chief & Old Sport

“You’re nobody, you’re invisible - how will you give this dress what it deserves?”

The world is a trash can (sang in the tune of “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” by The Smashing Pumpkins) and then a movie like Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris comes along to remind you why you need to keep breathing.

Lesley Manville stars as the adorably charming Mrs. Ada Harris, a recently widowed cleaning woman living in 1950s London that goes on an adventure to Paris to purchase a Christian Dior dress. While at the home of one of her clients, Mrs. Harris notices a dazzling couture dress hanging in the closet. She becomes infatuated with this article of clothing and decides that she needs to acquire one of her own. Based on the 1958 novel, Mrs. ‘Arris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico, one could not ask for a more delightful motion picture to escape the horrors of our present timeline.

“You’re an angel, what would I do without?”

Mrs. Harris is the type of individual that appears in a room followed by sunshine and birds chirping. She can turn the gray skies blue and manages to make even the most terrible of situations seem less dire. Take for example, upon arriving to a client’s flat she finds that the woman has overslept and is late for an audition. Mrs. Harris does not panic, instead she manages to get Pamela rousted, dressed as cute as a button, and out the door with even a pep in her step. Very much like a fairy godmother, Mrs. Harris brings good fortune to those around her. Sadly, the same can’t be said for Mrs. Harris herself.

Within the first few minutes of the film, we learn that after years of being missing in action during the war, her husband has been pronounced dead. In addition to this, it does appear that despite her nice demeanor Mrs. Harris is often taken advantage of by her customers. Regardless of being able to afford expensive dresses, her employer is not able to pay the cleaning bill. However, even being treated poorly does not break Mrs. Harris’s spirit. When she finds a lost ring on the street, instead of keeping it for herself, she turns it into the police. Essentially, Ada is one of the most wonderful characters to ever grace the silver screen. While watching I could not help but want the utmost bestest things possible for her.

In good time, after some scrimping, saving and a personal windfall of luck, she is able to finally make her trip to Paris. Much like a decadent cake, this story has many layers, and underneath that light, overly-sweet icing is a solid cake filled with a message regarding classism and privilege. When Mrs. Harris takes her titular trip (or better known as mission) to Paris to purchase the dress of her dreams, she encounters condescending behavior and prejudice in particular from the House of Dior and its patrons. Of course, Mrs. Harris does not allow any of this to ruin her moment, for she is determined and recognizes she deserves to be draped in luxury.

One scene that will stick with me is between Ada and the “shopgirl”, Claudine Colbert (Isabelle Huppert) regarding the future of the dress itself. Claudine questions what someone like Ada will even do with such an extravagant garment. Inferring that Mrs. Harris has no functions to attend or places to be as she is just a mere cleaning woman. It made me think about the way society attempts to dictate to us what we are allowed to have and not have, where we are allowed to go and not go or who or what we can be. Why can only a certain stature of creatures be able to enjoy the finer things in life? What is wrong with someone having something such as an article of clothing to make them feel special?

With the beautiful production design and costumes this film is reminiscent of a picture straight out of the golden age of Tinseltown. Witnessing Mrs. Harris select her dream dress was a scene that reminded me of the film The Women (1939) when they attend a fashion show of sorts. Watching the stunning apparel parade by was thrilling not only for the characters but for me as well. Obviously, with settings such as London and Paris, one can’t get more cinematic. Nevertheless, it is the overall story and feel good ending that give it that classic Hollywood feel.