Clearly aiming for the Philomena and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel crowd, The Lady in the Van has the appearance of a late season feel-good film that could be a sleeper. Everybody loves Maggie Smith, right? Especially when she's being cranky, mischievous, and giving the younger chaps a hard time.
A new trailer has been released for the adaptation of writer Alan Bennett's 1999 play, which is based on the weird-but-true story of his encounter with Miss Shepherd, an older woman in a camper van who ends up living in his driveway for 15 years. Bennett wrote the screenplay himself for director Nicholas Hytner (The History Boys), and the cast is impressive with Alex Jennings (as Bennett), Dominic Cooper, James Corden, Jim Broadbent, and Frances de la Tour. Here's the official synopsis:
Based on the true story of Miss Shepherd, 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 favour 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 iconic writer Alan Bennett (The Madness of King George, The History Boys) to bring this rare and touching portrait to the screen. Starring Maggie Smith, Dominic Cooper and James Corden.
The Lady in the Van hits the U.K. in November but has yet to gain stateside release.
