The Lady in the Van – Film Review by Frank L.

Directed by Nicholas Hytner

Writer: Alan Bennett
Stars: Dominic Cooper, Maggie Smith, James Corden

Alan Bennett has been an intimate and acute observer of the society in which he lives for over fifty years. Gloucester Crescent lying just north of Regent’s Park in the borough of Camden had started in the early seventies its metamorphosis from somewhat seedy bedsits to highly desirable residences.

As a result the nature of the inhabitants was changing. Alan Bennett as part of this process, having become famous for his part in “Beyond the Fringe” purchased number 23 in the early seventies. He along with the new neighbours were by their very presence “bringing up” the tone of the street.

Into this taut, comfortably heeled meritocracy Miss Shepherd arrives in her beat up old commercial van. This is her home. She may be a bit cantankerous but she had the wit to see that Gloucester Crescent is a street of some elegance. She decides that she and her van will take up residence in the street. This she does but pressure from Camden Council over on-street parking forces her to find a more permanent site for her van. She decides on Alan Bennett’s front garden. She is a refined, well-spoken lady with presence but she is dressed in rags and does not smell good. She is an autocratic old bag lady with wheels.

The part of Miss Shepherd is a perfect fit for Maggie Smith who has previously acted it on the stage. This is Maggie Smith at the height of her imperious, comic powers. She is mesmerising. Alan Bennet or rather “Mr.Bennett” as Miss Shepherd politely calls him is played by Alex Jennings. Nicholas Hytner has directed him to play Mr.Bennett as the writer and as Mr. Bennett the man. This enables Mr. Bennett the writer to debate with Mr. Bennett the man as to why he puts up with Miss Shepherd and her van. Mr.Bennett the writer is however conscious, even if subliminally, that Miss Shepherd was likely to be very good copy at some future point for one of his stories and so it has proved to be.

Miss Shepherd, a former pianist of some renown, was a lady who for a variety of reasons was not able to cope with the twentieth century in a conventional manner. Her luck was to stumble upon Alan Bennett, a chronicler of unusual small incidents, which reveal more than what is initially apparent. His acute ear to record the everyday snatches of conversation was given great scope by Miss Shepherd. It is a delight to watch how Miss Shepherd and Mr.Bennett negotiate their respective territories as she and her van, command his front garden and to a certain extent his solitary life.