Rating of
3/4
The Old Squatter
Unknown - wrote on 05/29/16
Quirky little gem based on an odd true story. Maggie Smith creates one of her most memorable characters to date in this crab, selfish, eccentric, funny, elderly squatter. The narrative is peculiar in how the main character talks to himself, addressing the situation while never going completely into a fourth-wall breaking scenario (until the final moments). Once I realized what the visual intentions of this method entailed, I was completely on board. The man himself who experienced this actual ordeal is also the writer of the film and book which it is adapted, so the format of storytelling makes absolute sense. The off-beat humor is refreshing; pertaining to the characters forced relationship with one another and their mutual understanding of each other despite their equally standoff nature. That understanding grows into a understatedly sweet fondness over the course of this years long story. It culminates into a nice tribute of the strange old woman. Takes an unconventional route to reach it's pleasant means, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
