When old folks are shipped off to a rest home, some people call it being put out to pasture.  In Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont, the main character decides to take matters into her own hands after her husband dies and before her daughter insists she move in with her. Mrs. Palfrey moves from Scotland to London and settles into a resident hotel, The Claremont. When she places her bags in her room and has little space left, the look of desperation on this woman’s face tells it all -- it’s a look that says “What have I done?”

From her manner, dress and stature, Mrs. Palfrey (Joan Plowright) seems to be someone who prefers going with the flow rather than making waves. She takes her place at her own table in the dining room, one square in the middle and surrounded by a host of other residents, each at their own table. Little is said to each other and the silence in the room says more than words. Everyone in his or her own space is the accepted routine and protocol.

Each day Mrs. Palfrey goes for a walk, tries to make conversation with other residents and waits patiently for her grandson, Desmond, who is attending college in London, to call her. I think only actress Joan Plowright could manage to project the emotional and realistic painful tics that are obvious but made to appear inconsequential, as each day Mrs. Palfrey sinks deeper into despair.

During one of her outings, Mrs. Palfrey takes a fall. Prince Charming in the form of Ludovic Meyer (Rupert Friend) comes to her rescue. The young writer takes her inside, dresses her leg wound tenderly, then makes her tea. It’s the first time in a long while that Mrs. Palfrey has felt warmth from anyone, but coming from someone a third her age, it’s most surprising.  

To repay his kindness, Mrs. Palfrey invites Ludovic to dinner later in the week. Liking their experience to being "trapped in a Terence Rattigan play," Ludovic finds he enjoys Mrs. Palfrey’s company. She’s witty but not demanding, easy going and appreciative of little things. After several outings with Ludovic and no phone calls from her grandson, Desmond, who does appear once but misses her, the other residents insist she bring Desmond to dinner one night.

Swallowing any pride she has left, Mrs. Palfrey informs Ludovic of the real situation, and he agrees to masquerade as Desmond. That scenario is one the two are far better suited for, and one that will not make tongues wag in a home where any deviance from protocol evokes excited giggles by Claremont residents.

Ludovic does have a girlfriend, Gwendolyn (Zoe Trapper), but the two seem to be moving in different directions. While mentoring Ludovic with his writing, Mrs. Palfrey opens Ludovic’s eyes about the rhythms of life as well.  He begins to look at Gwendolyn in a new light.

Mrs. Palfrey’s real grandson (Lorcan O'Toole) does show up, but by now Mrs. Palfrey is too entrenched in her ruse to set the record straight. She brings him up to speed and sends him off, telling him to let his mother know that she is fine.

When Mrs. Palfrey becomes gravely ill and must go to the hospital, it’s Ludovic who stays by her bed, and the nurses believe Ludovic is her real grandson. By now Ruth Sacks
has adapted Elizabeth Taylor’s novel so well we’re thoroughly absorbed in this sentimental story. The rich characters at the Claremont add interest and amusement to Mrs. Palfrey’s odyssey.

Rupert Friend, the romantic Mr. Wickham in Pride & Prejudice (2005), does a grand job of convincing us he’s Ludovic. A sensitive but alert young man who puts aside his own journey to help an elderly woman relive her past, ultimately finds the heart story he’s been searching for.

Director Dan Ireland (The Whole Wide War) brings a beautiful and soulful story to the screen through wonderful and believable performances from his cast. Instead of being a loud, fast-paced, over-the-top film, Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont is one to view with patience, expectation and an open heart.

(Released by Cineville; not rated by MPAA.)

Read Diana Saenger’s reviews of classic films at http://classicfilm.about.com.