Eleanor The Great: a review

*Warning: reader discretion is advised while reading this article, as the subject matter of death and the holocaust is mentioned often.”

Eleanor The Great  (Currently playing in limited release Cineplex Forum, version originale avec sous-titres français (Cinémathèque québécoise /Montréal, Cinéma Le Clap Ste-Foy/Québec, Le Tapis Rouge/Trois-Rivière,  with a wider release in the coming weeks )

Dir: Scarlett Johansson

Starring: June Squibb, Erin Kellyman, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rita Zohar 

Run Time: 1hr38min 

    Eleanor the Great was never on my radar of releases of the year, but I heard of it from a work colleague at the theatre. When I first heard mention of the title and director, debut for actress Scarlet Johansson, I didn’t know if I let out a groan or a sigh, as what conjured in my mind was another historical period bio picture film just in time for award season. Johansson set her desire and aspirations from a young age for the role of director, having observed the late Robert Redford directing during The Horse Whisperer. A quick research on the film led me to a contrary thought of interest when I read June Squibb, who I found to be a delightful comedic revelation opposite Bruce Dern in Nebraska (2013), as the title character, Eleanor. Maybe this was not going to be the period piece I might have been dreading in my head from the title alone. Rather, the film delves into themes of aging, Jewish identity, dealing with grief and intergenerational friendship.

    94-year-old Eleanor (June Squib) and her best friend Bessie (Rita Zohar), for the past 10 years, have been living as roommates in Florida, where they go shopping together, exercise and enjoy each other's company through conversations. Pointing out their synchronization in an early scene when both are putting on their shoes at the same time with the same movements.  Sometimes these conversations are of the past as Bessie is a holocaust survivor, imparts her stories to Eleanor. After Bessie dies suddenly, Eleanor moves to New York to reconnect with her daughter (Jessica Hatchet) and her grandson (Will Price) in the hopes that this will help with the grief of the loss of her friend. However, her daughter is out of the house most days, and starts talking about a retirement home with a better sense of community, and her grandson seems to be occupied with his friends despite his love for his grandmother. Eleanor seems lost and invisible, missing that connection she had with Bessie

    Her daughter suggests taking classes at the local JJC community centre. Eleanor ends up going; however, instead of going into a class, she unknowingly walks into a support group for Holocaust survivors, who welcome her into the group. On the spot, she shares one of Bessie’s stories, unbeknownst to the consequences that will follow her. Also in the group is Nina, a journalism student who befriends a reluctant Eleanor and decides to make her class assignment topic on Eleanor’s life, even if it’s Bessie’s life. Eleanor distances herself at first, but, feeling alone and isolated, starts digging a deeper hole by telling stories that are not her own.  Despite the generational gap, both Nina and Eleanor bond and help each other overcome their grief and loss, as Nina has recently lost her mother. Along with this, Eleanor reflects on her own Jewish identity, having converted when she married her husband, goes to synagogue with Nina and even prepares for her own BatMitzvah.  However, as their friendship becomes stronger, their bond may become fractured upon the reveal of Eleanor’s true self. 

    The film is a bit clunky as we follow Eleanor down the path of not telling the whole truth of the matter, even though she thinks she means well. I can see how some viewers, especially survivors of the holocaust, will take issue with this narrative function of the film. It was never her story to tell, but Eleanor uses the story as a memory of her friend to help overcome the internal grief she is dealing with over that friend's loss. The same can be said for Nina, who latches on to the support group, and Eleanor, to deal with the loss of her mother. What I can commend the film for as well is the oral history preservation, as painful as it is, it is important so it does not repeat itself. Johansson worked closely with the USC Shoah Foundation for the subplot of the film about Holocaust survivors, as real survivors were cast for the support group. In summary, a solid debut on loss and grief and the friends we find along the way from director Scarlett Johansson. June Squibb is great as Eleanor when the comedy elements come in, but also helms the emotional core of the film alongside her co-star Erin Kellyman. Here’s hoping for some award recognition for June Squibb when award season comes around. 

⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Remi is the host of At The Movies, along with regular Co-Host Danny Auber,y every Tuesday morning from 9-10 AM only on CJLO 1690 AM. They cover local film festivals, have interviews with directors and actors, and talk about a new film or the classics. As well as the iconic sounds of present and past film scores and soundtracks. Follow Remi on Letterboxd.