“The Lady in the Van” and “45 Years” are playing at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center starting Feb. 19.
“The Lady in the Van” is based on the true story of Miss Shepherd (Maggie Smith), a woman of uncertain origins who “temporarily” parked her van in writer Alan Bennett’s London driveway and proceeded to live there for 15 years. What begins as a begrudged favor becomes a relationship that will change both their lives.
Filmed on the street and in the house where Bennett and Miss Shepherd lived all those years, acclaimed director Nicholas Hytner reunites with Bennett (“The Madness of King George,” “The History Boys”) to bring this rare and touching portrait to the screen. It is showing at the Ross through March 3.
Also at the Ross, “45 Years” is showing through Feb. 25. The film offers richly thought-provoking rewards for fans of adult cinema and a mesmerizing acting showcase for leads Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay.
Kate (Rampling) and Geoff (Courtenay) are preparing to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary. But a stunning revelation—the body of Geoff’s former lover has been discovered 50 years after she fell from a mountain in the Swiss Alps – suddenly changes everything. Consumed with questions about her husband’s past, Kate reconsiders everything she’s known about her marriage and, as the anniversary party draws nearer, finds herself at a potentially life-changing crossroads.
For showtimes, click here. For coming attractions, click here.
