Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12898 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-01-26
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 110 minutes

Synopsis
Thelma Caldicot's money-minded son packs his recently widowed and down-trodden mother off to Twilight Years Rest Home. Not quite ready for the scrap heap, and frankly appalled by the conditions, she takes a stand and decides to do something about it. Starring Pauline Collins as the reinvigorated Mrs Caldicot, and featuring performances from John Alderton and Peter Capaldi, this is a comedy of independence and parental rebellion.

Customer Reviews

A hidden gem!
I first heard of this film a few years ago, when during the seasonal holidays, it was put on television. Although it was not Christmasy in the slightest, it most certainly was a heart warming, fussy film. After her finest hour of heroine, Shirley Valintine, Pauline Collins returns, as an OAP, who is unfairly placed in an poorly run nursing home, by her manipulative son and social climbing wife. The film is all very tame-don't expect all the signs of a Tarintino, but this film is just marvellous. Poignant, humerous, happy, sad, warm...whatever you want to call this film, all you need to know, it is an appropriate and highly entertaining, Watch it!

glamorous but not a granny
After watching Mrs. Caldicot's cabbage war, I was reminded how versatile an actress we have in Pauline Collins! The story centres around a married 'non person' who suddenly finds freedom after a rather peculiar end meets her husband. Put into a 'rest home' by her weak minded son and manipulative daughter-in-law, she spends a short time in drug induced oblivion.
Eventually wakened by a sense of betrayal and longed for freedom, she finally begins to see her surroundings as they really are. Staff at the rest home are tranquilising virtually every resident to keep them quiet, prevent falls and therefore reduce staff overtime! Even the manager of the rest home (John Alderton) is reaping dividends in terms of Matron's very special kind of TLC.
The film does touch on a nerve ... the process of growing old with dignity. It makes you wonder if you might eventually end up in a similar predicament, eating cabbage seven days a week!
Reminiscent of Shirley Valentine,with essence of One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest, the central character demonstrates the human ability to adapt and emerge stronger without recrimination.
Pauline Collins yet again adds her own very special something to this film, and gets a gorgeous man to boot.
Glamourous? Always. Granny? Never.
Dawn M

A heartwarming surprise
I watched this film one saturday afternoon when nothing else was on the TV. What a brilliant surprise! Pauline Collins was fantastic in her role as downtrodden Mrs Caldicot and made me laugh and cry throughout the whole film. I would reccommend this film to anyone of any age, it's flawless!