The title does not lie. Mrs. Harris does indeed go to Paris in the summer’s loveliest surprise, a story of one woman who knows she deserves something beautiful and will find a way to make it so. Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is a fantasy along the lines of Emily in Paris, but with an undercurrent of melancholy that keeps it from straying too far from reality.

Based on the novel of just about the same name (it’s actually titled Mrs. ‘Arris Goes to Paris due to Britishness), the film stars Lesley Manville as a cleaning lady slowly coming to terms with the fact that her husband is not returning from WWII. She faces this with a stiff British upper lip, continuing her work and spending time with her friends Vi and Archie (Ellen Thomas and Jason Isaacs) while admiring luxury items from afar. When her war widow pension, accidentally withheld, comes in all at once, Mrs. Harris decides it is a sign from her husband to do something wonderful for herself. She wants a Christian Dior dress, and travels to Paris to make it so. The Parisians do not take kindly to Mrs. Harris’ working-class ways, especially Madame Colbert (Isabelle Huppert, of course), but with time and effort, Mrs. Harris manages to work her way into their hearts.

Mrs. Harris stands out in the House of Dior because she is a regular, working-class woman who dares to step out of her social class and want something not usually afforded to her. She is not audacious; she just advocates for herself and proves she has the money to be there. Dior’s accountant André (Lucas Bravo, on loan from Emily in Paris) gives her a place to stay while she has her fittings, disclosing his own desire to romance one of the Dior models, Natasha (Alba Baptista). Much like Paddington Bear, Mrs. Harris’s mere presence infects those around her, making them dare to dream of a life outside their current roles. Dior can sell less expensive items!  A model can read Sartre!

This all sounds fairly standard for a film of this kind, but Lesley Manville elevates it in the way only a Mike Leigh rep player can. Everything feels authentic coming from her, from her loving glances at the Dior dresses to the quiet moments of despair when those around her take advantage of her kindness. Minor criticisms only – Huppert’s character has a sort of cartoonish manner in a way the others don’t. You half expect her to start chasing after Rocky and Bullwinkle before things settle down around her. The film is definitely longer than it needs to be, but a lot of that time is spent on Lesley Manville’s loving face, so that works out well for the audience. 

I’m happy a film like this has been released in theaters when so many lovely stories have been relegated to streaming platforms (Good Luck to You, Leo Grande comes to mind) to fade into obscurity. Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is the perfect Sunday matinee to see with the octogenarians in your town, a quick vacation to the city of lights with some gorgeous costuming and an older woman finding her spark.

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris
dir. Anthony Fabian
2022
115 min

Opens Friday, 7/15 at the multiplex of your choice