Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Saturday 7 September 2019

Woman tackles a mountain in the

moving film ‘Edie’

By MARK KENNEDY clue: She wants more). His that’s pretty much it: Older
Associated Press death liberates her, send- woman attempts to scale
In the northwest of Scot- ing her to the Scottish High- a mountain. Hancock fills in
land, there stands a gla- lands, finally. so much of the spare script
cier-carved mountain “I’ve lived a whole life and with her quiet control, her
called Suilven. Climbing it is most of it I would change expressive face and eyes.
not for the timid. But that’s if I could,” she says. “I’ve When she finally laughs,
not a word that describes wasted so much time do- you feel it.
the unusual heroine deter- ing nothing. I can’t give this It might seem flimsy but
This image released by Music Box Films shows Kevin Guthrie, mined to conquer Suilven up now.” there’s so much here, in-
left, and Sheila Hancock in a scene from “Edie.” in the film “Edie .” No one she encounters cluding exploring ideas
Associated Press Edith Moore — everyone thinks climbing the moun- of fulfillment, regret and
calls her Edie — is no or- tain is a good idea for a taking a chance. Plus, it’s
dinary climber. She’s 83 woman in her 80s who refreshing to have a film
and has been sedentary sometimes has a hard time heroine with white hair and
for most of that time. That opening car doors, except wrinkles. When was the last
mountain, though, looms for the young co-owner of time we saw an 80-plus
large in her mind in this qui- a local camping shop, Jon- woman in a film in a bub-
et, unrushed and moving ny (a soulful Kevin Guthrie). ble bath drinking wine?
tale of age and will. Edie is laughed at by the lo- The screenplay by Eliza-
Director Simon Hunter cals or considered an easy beth O’Halloran (from a
spends as much time fo- mark, but Jonny and Edie story by Edward Lynden-
cusing on the crags of the bond despite their age Bell) doesn’t wrap up ev-
glorious mountain as the gap. He feels trapped in his erything in a bow at the
ones on Edie’s face, mak- life, too. end — it actually just sort
ing it sometimes seem as if Together, they get Edie of ends, abruptly — and
the Scottish Tourism Board ready for the tough, three- Debbie Wiseman’s eager
and AARP teamed up to day climb. There are set- and overemotional score
make a movie. backs — “Leave me alone. sometimes undermines the
Edie, lovingly portrayed by I’m geriatric,” she jokes — actors’ more quiet work.
the brilliant Sheila Hancock, and cool new gear to buy. But the uplifting “Edie” is
is a bitter and stubborn (Edie is a little flummoxed worthy of your time, mostly
woman when we first meet by modern climbing jack- thanks to Hancock and
her. She’s been taking care ets. “It’s got holes in it,” she Scotland’s natural beauty.
of her ill and controlling hus- complains. “Edie,” a Music Box Films
band for decades, nursing “Yeah,” replies Jonny. “For release, is unrated. Running
a long-held dream to climb your thumbs.”) time: 102 minutes. Three
Suilven. (Her last name is a As far as the plot goes, stars out of four.q

Scarlett Johansson stands by

Woody Allen: ‘I believe him’

filmmaker since the MeToo cence. He has never been
movement prompted a re- criminally charged.
examination of child sexual “It’s hard because it’s a
abuse allegations from time where people are very
his now-grown daughter, fired up, and understand-
Dylan. Michael Caine, ably,” she said. “Things
Timothee Chalamet and needed to be stirred up,
Greta Gerwig are among and so people have a
the actors who have pub- lot of passion and a lot of
licly expressed regret over strong feelings and are an-
working with him. gry, and rightfully so. It’s an
“I love Woody,” Johansson intense time.”
This Aug. 29, 2019 file photo told The Hollywood Report- Johansson said she has
shows actress Scarlett er in an interview released had numerous conversa-
Johansson at the photo call
for the film ‘Marriage Story’ at on Wednesday. “I believe tions with Allen about his
the 76th edition of the Venice him, and I would work with past.
Film Festival in Venice, Italy. him anytime.” “I have been very direct
Associated Press Allen helped boost Johans- with him, and he’s very di-
Associated Press son to the A-list. He direct- rect with me,” she said.
NEW YORK (AP) — Scarlett ed her in “Match Point,” Allen has yet to find a U.S.
Johansson says she’s stand- ‘’Scoop” and “Vicky Cris- distributor for his films since
ing by Woody Allen be- tina Barcelona.” She said Amazon pulled his deal
cause, “I believe him.” she has spoken to Allen last year. Allen has filed a
Much of Hollywood has about the accusations $68 million lawsuit against
distanced itself from the and he maintains his inno- Amazon.q