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Manila Bulletin devider Lifestyle devider Schools and Universities devider Dare to follow your dream Dior

Dare to follow your dream Dior

Published Nov 9, 2022 07:57 am

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris premieres at the 25th edition of the French Film Festival

Can a cleaning lady afford to buy her dream dress—a Christian Dior? In the real world, money talks. But for Ada Harris’ (Lesley Fabian) fairy tale world, nothing is impossible. 

'Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris' movie poster

Mrs. Harris tends to many households cleaning and doing errands to earn her hard-earned money. She has been longing for her husband, Sgt. Edward Harris, to come back for her. A visit from one of the officers informed her that her lover was killed in action. Now, “fancy-free” and with pension money, she flies off to Paris for her shopping adventure.

Lesley Manville

She saves pennies to watch the fashion show of Christian Dior and all are charmed by her wit and goodness. She is advised to write the number of the dress she wants and she picks number 89, a crimson red named “Temptation”! But alas, a client snags her “dream” dress because it should be given to an old-time Dior client. The war widow settles for the green “Venus” dress.

Simple and down-to-earth, Mrs. Harris wields her magic and befriends accountant André Fauvel (Lucas Bravo) and model Natasha (Alba Baptista). She cooks dinner for them.

Lucas Bravo, Alba Baptista, and Lesley Manville

Although André is a loyal employee of the House of Dior, he thinks: “In truth, I do not think Dior would survive.” That would be a tragedy for Mrs. Harris. “You cannot allow that to happen,” she muses. 

One evening, while André and Mrs. Harris are on a stroll, they see Natasha with an actor at a movie premiere. The old woman plays Cupid to the two lovely couple but André insists he will die of humiliation by matching him with Natasha.

The good-looking André has had his eyes for Natasha for a long time, but he says to Mrs. Harris: “I’m sorry, life is not all moonlight and movies.” The romantic Mrs. Harris doesn’t want André to follow her path who has wasted the time she could have spent pursuing her true passion. “It is you who wish to be in love,” André answers back. “You must attend to your own heart.”

‘I’m sorry, life is not all moonlight and movies.’

Mrs. Harris has met a rich French gentleman, Marquis de Chassagne (Lambert Wilson), who wants her company. They dine, talk, and spend time together. Her journey to Paris is so different from her tiring London life and dating Mr. Marquis is a breath of fresh air. 

There is always an antagonist and in this film, which runs for one hour and 55 minutes, it is Isabelle Huppert who plays Claudine Colbert. She believes that a Dior dress is designed to astonish and delight. How will Mrs. Harris do that? “Forgive me for saying this but you are nobody, invisible,” Claudine snaps. “It’s my dream,” says the lovable Mrs. Harris.

Second chance at love

Enter Natasha, who delivers a note from Mr. Marquis, who wishes for our protagonist to visit and have tea with him. Will Mrs. Harris find love in Paris? Maybe.

The charming cleaning lady is also a capable seamstress who empowers women to join the workers’ strike. Directed by Anthony Fabian, this historical comedy-drama is a whimsical Cinderella-type of film fit for senior citizens. No doubt there is happy ending even if Mrs. Harris’ haute couture dress, that she never gets to wear, not even once, ends in a disaster. 

Dare to follow your dream is Mrs. Harris’ lesson for all of us. 

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris was screened at the 25th French Film Festival at Greenbelt 3 cinema on Oct. 23.

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