Edie can’t decide if it’s a touching look at ageing or just a naff comedy
Sheila Hancock plays widower Edie who attempts a pilgrimage to the summit of Mount Suliven in the Scottish Highlands in memory of her lost relationship with her father
Edie, played by Sheila Hancock, is a widower left wondering what to do with her newly-found freedom, so attempts a pilgrimage to the summit of Sulivan mountain in the Scottish Highlands in memory of her lost relationship with her father.
Along the way she meets young Johnny - a regular kind of guy, who agrees to help her on her quest in exchange for some opportunistic cash.
Half the film is quite a touching account of death, ageing and reflection - the other, some kind of weird naff gentle comedy about an unlikely couple on an adventure.
The story is pushed and pulled by these two premises and the latter spoils what could have been a touching film.
I was intrigued by her relationship with her daughter, husband and father, yet it barely brushes against them.
As it struggles to decide where it wants to be, I was left jarred.
Sheila Hancock is obviously magnificent and can deal with films like this in her sleep - but there must have been times she raised a quiet eyebrow to herself.
The stunning Scottish scenery is the only other thing to come close to her here - and even that gets in the way of the film’s strongest asset; a brilliant actor’s ode to old.
Edie, 101mins (12A)
★★☆☆☆