The Trip to Bountiful Details

[Highly rated reviewer]

A wee gem!

I must confess that learning from the 'extras' section on the DVD that this is one of America's great stage plays, I'd never heard of it before reading the details in the Radio

Times film guide.

Not much really happens except some people 'find themselves'. In the extra notes about how it was made someone says that in Chekhov plays, its what

is not said that is important. So it is with this movie and I can think of no higher accolade than to compare it with a Chekhov play!

Certainly it was slow and the film version very much like a stage play at first. I kept on being reminded of Tennessee William's plays or even 'Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf?'

The script showed great touches of humour mixed with sadness.

The acting by all was superb and the direction and the lighting excellent. The settings in the latter part of the movie reminded me of paintings by Andrew Wyeth.

However, the best part of the movie is a fantastic piece of acting by Geraldine Paige. She really makes you feel for the sad, lonely lady who has to live with her son and his bitchy wife - she certainly deserved her Oscar.

If you like 'road movies' about the older generation looking for their lost youth or reliving their past and coming to terms with their present, then this is for you. Do borrow it if you like classy, intelligent, affecting and enjoyable dramas with fine acting which make you think

Trip to Bountiful

Very slow, fell asleep !!