Watch My Old Lady

My Old Lady is a 2014 drama film which explores themes of family, inheritance, and the tangled web of relationships that connect us. Directed by Israel Horovitz, and starring Kevin Kline, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Maggie Smith, the film follows a middle-aged New Yorker named Mathias Gold, who inherits a spacious Parisian apartment from his estranged father, alongside a surprising catch: a lifelong tenant named Mathilde who will continue to live in the apartment, rent-free, until her death.

Mathias (Kline) doesn't know what to do with the apartment - he's broke, recently divorced, and has tenuous ties to his father, who left him nothing but debt. Hoping for an easy sale, he flies to Paris to sign the paperwork and settle the estate. But he quickly discovers that the apartment isn't worth nearly as much as he thought it would be, and that he can't sell it as long as Mathilde (Smith) is living there. More than that, he learns that he's actually inherited more than just an apartment from his father - he's inherited the legacy of a flawed and painful family history, one that he must navigate and confront head-on if he's ever going to move forward.

At first, Mathilde is unwelcoming and distant towards Mathias, who she views as an interloper in the apartment that she's called home for decades. But as the two of them begin to spend more time together, drawn by a shared sense of loneliness and disappointment with life, they form an unlikely bond. Gradually, Mathias begins to learn about his father's past, and comes to understand the complicated and painful reasons why he chose to cut ties with his son. Meanwhile, Mathilde confronts her own demons and regrets as she enters the final phase of her life.

Into this mix comes Chloé (Scott Thomas), Mathilde's daughter, who is angry and resentful towards Mathias for a variety of reasons. She's in a complicated and unhappy marriage, still bruised and bitter from her own relationship with her father, and is immediately suspicious of Mathias's intentions. But as Mathias and Chloé begin to spend time together, they too begin to form a connection, one that could help both of them finally find some closure and healing for the wounds of the past.

Throughout the film, the building itself is a character unto itself, as much a part of the tapestry of relationships as the people themselves. Filmed on location in Paris, the camera lingers on the city's beauty, from its charming cafes and narrow streets to the stunning architecture of the apartment building. The pacing of the film is gentle and slow, allowing the audience to fully inhabit the emotional weight of the story and the stunning performances by its lead actors. Kevin Kline is particularly excellent as Mathias, bringing his signature blend of wit and gravitas to a complex and layered character. Maggie Smith is equally impressive as Mathilde, imbuing her character with a fierce intelligence and sharp wit.

Overall, My Old Lady is a moving and thought-provoking film that explores the themes of family, legacy, and the often-complicated nature of human relationships. Anchored by standout performances by its lead actors, it's a film that asks difficult but important questions about the past and how it shapes our future. Anyone who has ever grappled with issues of inheritance or family dynamics will find much to relate to in this powerful and poignant film.

My Old Lady is a 2014 romance movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 44 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4 and a MetaScore of 52.