In Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, we find a film about dreams, hope, love, and a touch of sacrifice. It’s about seeing yourself in a way that nobody else can. You know who you are and what you are capable of. No matter what anyone says, you will achieve your goals by any means necessary, even if it means putting the dreams and desires of others above your own from time to time.
It shows the importance of having a dream of your own and pursuing it fully. But it’s also more than that; it’s about not limiting yourself and moving forward in the wake of great tragedy, no matter how long ago that tragedy occurred. You only have one life, so live it to its fullest.
Spoiler-free recap of Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris
We all have a dream we want to achieve in our lives, be it to get married and have a family or to become insanely wealthy. While dreams are important to have, it’s even more important to not forget about who we are and why we have the dreams we have. For Mrs. Harris, that dream was seeing her beloved husband Eddie again, but when that dream failed to come to fruition, she was forced to come up with a new dream. As one of the many “invisible women,” as Ada Harris calls them in the film, finding her new dream just meant that she needed to look no further than one of the homes in which she cleaned. And what was that new dream? To own a one-of-a-kind “frock” from the biggest name in fashion in 1957, Christian Dior.
Along the way to fulfilling her new dream, Mrs. Harris encounters hurdle after hurdle, with people and situations intent on keeping her from her goal. Not content with settling for less than what she believes she deserves, Mrs. Harris goes about pushing boundaries and her luck, risking everything she has to in one last-ditch effort. But, when tragedy strikes and she believes that her hopes for her one-of-a-kind gown are dashed, a guardian angel is sent her way to rekindle her spirits and give her the boost she needs to truly help her dreams come true. Now, Mrs. Harris is off to Gai Paree to fulfill her heart’s desire. What ensues in Paris is an adventure the likes of which Mrs. Harris could have never imagined.
The film holds a deeper message
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is, at its core, a movie about daring to take a chance and stepping out of your comfort zone to get what you desire. Daring to dream so big that anything is possible. It’s about realizing that it’s ok to move on when you feel like your world has ended. Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is about second chances in life, love, and business. It’s about looking forward and venturing off onto a whole new adventure. But most importantly, it’s about believing in love!
Why we love the cast of Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris!
English-born Lesley Manville is no stranger to film, or stage, after being trained as a soprano at age 8, and being accepted into the Italia Conti Academy of the Arts at age 15. Having got her professional start in the industry as a teenager in England with television series such as Village Hall (1974) and Barlow (1975), which led to her incredible 80-episode run on Emmerdale Farm (1976-1977), Lesley has had a storied career in the world of film and stage working with director Mike Leigh, a frequent collaborator, on stage and screen. Leslie is just as at home playing a British Royal such as Princess Margaret in The Crown as she is playing a cleaning lady who dreams of the most beautiful dress in all the world in Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris.
In an interview with Cleveland.com, Lesley was asked how she approached the role of playing Mrs. Harris, to which she simply stated, “It’s very clear that she has got this fiery spirit, that she takes the knocks of life, she plows forward and sees everything in a positive vein.” She went on to say, “I work off my instincts pretty much mostly these days. I was quite clear of what she would be like. She was very present on the page, and it was not too difficult to bring her to life because I kind of understood her.” We love her spirit and just how much depth she gave to this iconic character.
The film includes a special Harry Potter actor
While younger audiences might know this next star as Lucius Malfoy from the Harry Potter series, actor Jason Isaacs is no stranger to the comedy and drama genres of film. While studying law at Bristol University, Isaacs developed a deep love for theater and film and decided to pursue this new avenue post-graduation. He has since worked with iconic directors such as Ridley Scott in Black Hawk Down, Paul Greengrass in Green Zone, Roland Emmerich in Patriot Games, and now Anthony Fabian in Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris. In an interview for the YouTube channel TheMovies, Isaacs was asked why he wanted to be a part of Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, and he stated quite simply, “I wanted to work with Anthony, who I knew. I read the script and it was warm and uncynical. It was like the perfect anecdote to the time we live in.” This film is filled with heart and soul, so we couldn’t agree more with Mr. Isaacs’ sentiment.
The wrap-up
In a time when the entire world has nearly been shut down due to a global pandemic, we need now more than ever a reason to dream. The delightfully quirky film Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris delivers this need in spades. From its opening with the titular character proclaiming this is her lucky day to being able to walk into the iconic House of Dior and purchase her dream dress off of the savings of a mere cleaning woman, an ‘invisible woman,’ as Ada and her friend Vi call them. It’s important to understand that while Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is a story about chasing your dream, it also shows us how important it is that we learn how to move forward in life, even when we think we can’t. Life is short, and people we love and care about come and go from our lives with little to no warning. But how you chose to deal with this heartache is all up to you. For Ada Harris, it was buying her dream dress. What will it be for you?
Love and Praise abound on Twitter for Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris movie
need to gather as many LAoomfs as possible for Mrs Harris Goes To Paris this weekend WHOS WITH ME
— stevie (@oblivyawn) July 12, 2022
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is a delightful & refreshing change of pace from everything that is currently at the multiplex. Feels like a movie right out of the 50s with wonderful characters, strong direction & brilliant costumes. Lesley Manville is terrific. #mrsharrisgoestoparis pic.twitter.com/PhkE7iP3uQ
— Scott Menzel (@ScottDMenzel) July 11, 2022
MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS is perfect. 10/10. Absolutely no notes.
— Olivier’s Safety Pins (@yosoymichael) July 12, 2022
We’re certain everyone will love #MrsHarrisGoesToParis on the big screen just as much as they loved it on the page. 💙
See Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris in theatres this weekend! pic.twitter.com/Fi7uzi8zlo
— Cineplex (@CineplexMovies) July 12, 2022
Book your flight, er, seats, to this summer’s most anticipated drama, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, and be sure to buy tickets ahead of time with the NEW Hollywood.com app!
