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The Lady in the Van

"A mostly true story"

2015-10-30 Comedy 1hr 44m

The true story of the relationship between Alan Bennett and the singular Miss Shepherd, a woman of uncertain origins who ‘temporarily’ parked her van in Bennett’s London driveway and proceeded to live there for 15 years.

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The Lady in the Van
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Storyline

The true story of the relationship between Alan Bennett and the singular Miss Shepherd, a woman of uncertain origins who ‘temporarily’ parked her van in Bennett’s London driveway and proceeded to live there for 15 years.

  • Released
    2015-10-30
  • Revenue
    $41,387,687
  • Budget
    $6,000,000
  • Runtime
    1hr 44m
  • Genre
    Comedy, Drama
  • Status
    Released
  • Language
    English
  • imdb-logo
    6.7
  • Production
    BBC Film, TriStar Pictures

Crew

Nicholas Hytner
Director
Alan Bennett
Writer
Damian Jones
Producer
Keywords:
van london, england based on novel or book england homelessness biography based on true story alter ego poverty

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Cast

Maggie Smith

Maggie Smith
Miss Shepherd
Alex Jennings

Alex Jennings
Alan Bennett
Frances de la Tour

Frances de la Tour
Ursula Vaughan Williams
Gwen Taylor

Gwen Taylor
Mam
Dominic Cooper

Dominic Cooper
Theatre Actor
James Corden

James Corden
Street Trader
Roger Allam

Roger Allam
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Samuel Anderson

Samuel Anderson
Jehovah's Witness
Dermot Crowley

Dermot Crowley
Priest
Jim Broadbent

Jim Broadbent
Underwood
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Eleanor Matsuura

Eleanor Matsuura
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Sacha Dhawan

Sacha Dhawan
Doctor Malik
Samuel Barnett

Samuel Barnett
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Deborah Findlay

Deborah Findlay
Pauline
David Calder

David Calder
Mr. Fairchild
Elliot Levey

Elliot Levey
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Claire Foy

Claire Foy
Lois, Social Worker
Pandora Colin

Pandora Colin
Mrs. Perry
Marion Bailey

Marion Bailey
Convent Housekeeper
Russell Tovey

Russell Tovey
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Rosalind Knight

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Jamie Parker

Jamie Parker
Estate Agent
Geoffrey Streatfeild

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George Taylor

George Taylor
Policeman
Richard Banks

Richard Banks
Neighbour
Aaron Neil

Aaron Neil
Grocer
Jessica Bastick-Vines

Jessica Bastick-Vines
Pauline and Rufus' Daughter
Cecilia Noble

Cecilia Noble
Miss Briscoe
Clare Hammond

Clare Hammond
Young Miss Shephard
Sam McArdle

Sam McArdle
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Giles Cooper

Giles Cooper
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Movie Reviews

Reviews for The Lady in the Van
reviewer avatar

A Review by Rangan 8

Written by Rangan on 2016-05-04

> According to her guidance, this is where it should go! Her legend continues. I was talking about Maggie Smith, she's 82 years old and s... read more

> According to her guidance, this is where it should go! Her legend continues. I was talking about Maggie Smith, she's 82 years old and still her performances can compete with younger generation actors. The story was narrated from someone's perspective about the role she played, that's why it's little weakened, otherwise if she was in solo, it would have been an Oscar worthy. Incidentally, that someone was an actual writer, so the film ended up portraying her very well, beside himself. Inspired by the real story of an old lady who lived in a van for the 15 years during the 70s in the London's residential driveways. This film tells the mystery behind the state of her condition and actions. Actually, I expected it to be like 'Little Miss Sunshine', a road film, but after learning it was a biopic I am impressed with the overall movie. An heartfully enjoyable comedy-drama with a small suspense in the plot. In fact, the whole film developed pretty well because of the opening event that hidden from us to reveal at the conclusion. It was a bit of fantasy as well, especially the end was too much of it. On the Mary Shepard character, it reminded me Mrs. Julia Wicket from the Mr. Bean's animated series. Similar kind of attitude like don't care about others, especially when everyone around her showing some kind of respect and care, she was more a sceptical for us. The film was shot in the real locations. That was an advantage for filmmaking, and for us to witness from very close to the original. 8/10

reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 7

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2024-05-10

As the writer himself acknowledges at the end, he's augmented this a little but most of it is already the stuff you couldn't make up! He buy... read more

As the writer himself acknowledges at the end, he's augmented this a little but most of it is already the stuff you couldn't make up! He buys a new home in a well-to-do street in London's Camden only to find the area "blighted" by a curmudgeonly and smelly old woman who lives out of her rusting old van. When it comes time for her to move on, she ends up parked outside his new home and prevails upon him to use his facilities. That's just the start of a friendship that develops over fifteen years in which Bennett (Alex Jennings) discovers that this is an interesting and talented lady. It's quite easy to make judgements about her (Dame Maggie Smith) in the beginning, but as we go along we begin to realise that her supposed temporary existence has come to suit her perfectly, even if it does irritate her more respectable neighbours. The story of their relationship is told by the renowned playwright talking to himself much of the time and this series of conversations questions not just her existence but his own too. His narration is witty, perceptive and entertainingly expressive and the whole thing is enigmatically topped off by an actor who seems to be having an whale of a time portraying a woman of true character. It is a little bit long and does rather run out of steam towards the inevitable conclusion, but it does make you stop and think a little about homelessness, ageing and just how satisfying life can (or cannot) be.

Read Full Review (The thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of the reviewer.)
A Review by Reno

> According to her guidance, this is where it should go! Her legend continues. I was talking about Maggie Smith, she's 82 years old and still her performances can compete with younger generation actors. The story was narrated from someon...

reviewer avatar

A Review by Rangan 8

Written by Rangan on 2016-05-04

> According to her guidance, this is where it should go! Her legend continues. I was talking about Maggie Smith, she's 82 years old and still her performances can compete with younger generation ac...

read more
reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 7

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2024-05-10

As the writer himself acknowledges at the end, he's augmented this a little but most of it is already the stuff you couldn't make up! He buys a new home in a well-to-do street in London's Camden only ...

read more