Review - London Jewish Film Festival
For years, the Jewish old people's home, with its quirks, idiosyncrasies and, not to mince words, its nutters, has been a British comedy waiting to happen.
First-time director Charles Harris's gentle account of life in just such an establishment entertains, while simultaneously ringing alarm bells for anyone who suspects they may have to end their days among the Zimmer frames and false teeth. Half-Jewish, half-black Keith (Leyland O'Brien) looks after his irascible, terminally ill grandfather, Izzie (Ron Moody), and other inmates in various stages of dementia, at an old folks home owned by his mother, Dee (Rula Lenska). Keith's lonely world is enlivened by the arrival of Kim (Lee Blakemore) who attempts to coax him from his self-induced torpor.
Anyone who has ever visited a parent or grandparent in residential care will recognise the cast of incidental characters Harris has assembled. There's the resident who greets every visitor as her own relative, and the cook who stockpiles the milk while pouring water on the cornflakes.
Sharply observed and often hilarious.
Simon Round
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