Jeri Jacquin
Coming to theatres from director Paolo Virzi and Sony
Picture Classics is a film about the journey’s we sometimes need to take to
appreciate our lives with THE LEISURE SEEKER.
Stopping to check on her parents, Jane Spencer (Janel
Moloney) discovers her parents are not at home. Calling brother Will (Christian
McKay), it becomes quickly clear that not only are the folks gone – but so is
their motor home called The Leisure Seeker. Family friend Lillian (Dana Ivey)
is in a panic wanting them to be found quickly.
But Ella Spencer (Helen Mirren) and husband John (Donald
Sutherland) are focusing on their trip. Making one stop to call home to
reassure them that everything is fine, Ella does her best to explain that they
just want a few days for themselves.
Ella is the commander-in-chief of the road trip and it is
clear that something is wrong with John. Once an college professor, he now has
moments of forgetfulness and random walks that keep her on high alert. Yet down
the road they go remembering their lives together. Stopping at campgrounds they
spend evenings with one another and even unexpected events on the road are
hilarious.
But, with all trips down memory lane, each of us remember
things differently and Ella learns that perhaps some memory’s are best left
unspoken.
Mirren as Ella is a woman with the patience of a saint. As
Ella and John reminisce about their lives, she is clearly happy with the
journey they shared together. That’s not to say there aren’t times of
frustration, but their memories and joys are solid in her heart. Mirren is such
a fantastic actress and watching her bring this character with such depth and
emotion smack forward is a privilege to watch.
Sutherland as John is a man who has lived in a world of
knowledge and that world changes daily. The trip with Ella brings back the
memories of their own children growing up and the many students he taught.
Feeling that things are slowly becoming out of his control, it takes one
sentence to bring out a secret that could fracture them. I love Sutherland’s
humor mixed with the snide one liners from Mirren, it is a dance they do with
such finesse.
Moloney as Jane starts off worrying but slowly listens to
her mother Ella say they need time together. Backing off, she tries to convince
Will to let them have some time. McKay as Will isn’t as thrilled about the road
trip as his sister. Ivey as Lillian has been a friend of the family since their
younger years. She believes the trip is insane as well!
THE LEISURE SEEKER is a film that touches every fiber of a
human being. The connection for each of us is that this could quite easily be
the story of our own parents. For the parents, it could easily be the story of
trying to make life easier for their children.
These two elderly parents want to hit the road and feel the
wind on their faces. They want to remember the good that has been their lives
and come to terms with the not so good moments. Sutherland and Mirren are
perfection forcing me to stop and truly listen to the color of their moments.
This film will break hearts because we are witnessing the
story of a couple who has seen so much in their lives. Clearly they both have
medical issues and yet in the midst of that there is humor that can only be
portrayed by these two amazing actors.
I love the music of THE LEISURE SEEKER that adds not only to
their attempt at moments of fun but also the amazing love when things go a
little wrong. This is a story that I will truly carry with me for a long time
to come.
In the end – a once in a lifetime road trip they will never
forget!
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