Ladies in Lavender

PG-13

Released Apr 29, 2005

1 hr. 43 min.

Drama

Romance

List

64%

92 Reviews

Tomatometer

66%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Aging spinster sisters Ursula (Judi Dench) and Janet (Maggie Smith) discover a young man (Daniel Brühl) near death on the beach by their home in a small Cornish fishing village. Taking him in, they discover that he is Andrea, a violinist from Krakow, Poland, who had been swept off an ocean liner on which he was sailing to a fresh start in America. Although Ursula feels an unfamiliar spark of infatuation for the handsome young musician, propriety suggests the attraction must remain unspoken.

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Critics Consensus

A charming, if slight, period drama that quietly showcases fine performances by its two stars.

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Alexandra H

I very much enjoyed this film. The beauty of nature and community life in the English countryside shines through everything. Both Judi Dench and Maggie Smith are superb and enjoyable to watch. The violin music is lovely. Altogether, an engaging and pleasant watch.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/28/24

Full Review

Cornel P

Nice Story, great Entertainment, brillantly playing Dench and Smith. Those WHO think that only a problematic subject IS good for entertainment, are proven wrong with THIS charming movie...because ITS NEVER boring!💪

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/15/23

Full Review

fer b

I absolutely loved this movie. There is a message in it many people nowadays need to hear. There is a natural and unnatural way of things. Trying to manipulate nature and reality to fit an unnatural outcome could have horrendous consequences. In the end all the characters fall in place as they should and natural balanced is achieved. There is pain and sorrow in the human cycle of life but it all makes sense in the end when you are able to take a step back and embrace nature.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Beautifully filmed and touching. There are plot issues, but still very much worth the watch for the acting and scenery alone.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/21

Full Review

Audience Member

I tried watching this ages ago, but never got very far and now that I've seen the entire movie, I'm not sure why I didn't enjoy it the first time. It could be because I'm older now and the story finally resonated with me. But whatever the reason, I'm glad I gave it another try. This is a beautiful and heartwarming movie about two elderly sisters who find a badly injured young man (Andrea) washed up on the shore. They take him in and take care of him until he becomes part of their family. They learn that he is Polish, but they teach him how to converse in English and then discover that he has a wonderful talent for playing the violin. He meets a woman who is so impressed with his talent that she wants him to use it on a bigger level. The thing I liked most about this movie was the scenery (the seaside was gorgeous), but I absolutely loved Judi Dench. She was my favorite of the two sisters, and she had a sweetness and innocence about her. *spoiler* She develops feelings for Andrea and had it been done differently, it could have taken the movie in a completely different direction. However, the way it was presented was sweet and very subtle and led to a few touching moments I really loved this movie and I'm glad I gave it another try. It was definitely worth it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

funk l

A gentle movie. Slow but absorbing. If you like Maggie Smith and Judy Dench, then it is one to watch and with a glorious classical soundtrack as well.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Charles Dance

Director

Judi Dench

Ursula Widdington

Maggie Smith

Janet Widdington

Daniel Brühl

Andrea Marowski

Miriam Margolyes

Dorcas

Natascha McElhone

Olga Daniloff

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Empire Magazine

Rated: 3/5

Apr 1, 2006

Full Review

Roger Moore

Orlando Sentinel

It's a British period piece, full of the sylvan Cornish coast and countryside, vintage motorcars, steam threshers and sensibilities. Pity they left out a compelling plot.

Rated: 2/5

Jul 8, 2005

Full Review

Steve Davis

Austin Chronicle

Rated: 2/5

Jul 5, 2005

Full Review

Kat Halstead

Common Sense Media

The two Dames at the heart of the movie could hold viewers' attention making tea, and it's their performances that elevate what is otherwise a consistent, but not particularly memorable production.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 2, 2021

Full Review

Mattie Lucas

The Dispatch (Lexington, NC)

Gives two of the cinema's greatest grande dames a chance to show off their enormous talents.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 5, 2019

Full Review

Jim Lane

Sacramento News & Review

Rated: 3/5

Aug 7, 2008

Full Review

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Synopsis

Aging spinster sisters Ursula (Judi Dench) and Janet (Maggie Smith) discover a young man (Daniel Brühl) near death on the beach by their home in a small Cornish fishing village. Taking him in, they discover that he is Andrea, a violinist from Krakow, Poland, who had been swept off an ocean liner on which he was sailing to a fresh start in America. Although Ursula feels an unfamiliar spark of infatuation for the handsome young musician, propriety suggests the attraction must remain unspoken.

Director: Charles Dance
Executive Producer: Bill Allan, Charles Dance, Emma Hayter, Robert Jones, Michael Whyke, Terrence Yason
Screenwriter: Charles Dance
Distributor: IDP Distribution
Production Co: Scala Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Strong Language)
Genre: Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 29, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.8M

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