Powodzenia, Leo Grande

A very bold conversational drama with two actors, but surprisingly it makes do with them and then has something to offer in the field of 90 minutes. At certain moments the film manages to be apt and funny (even if I would have liked more humour), at others sensitive and emotional and in many ways it’s philosophical, and hats off to this combination. I also appreciate the overall tone and point of the film, the courage of the actress to strip down for the camera at her age, and the clever dialogue. In sum, this is a remarkable and original film. It's just a bit more of a festival piece than the kind of movie I'd like to see again, and maybe I was expecting more on the comedy side as well. (04.09.2022)

A pleasant surprise. I like conversation dramas that take place in one place with an interesting idea, interesting thoughts and dialogues and nice actors. A film about sex, pleasure, self-acceptance and human connection. Emma Thompson is 55, a widow, has only had her husband in her life and he sucked in bed, so she decides to book a male escort to experience the thrill she wasted in her youth. Emma's acting is great and I enjoyed watching and listening to her past and problems. Daryl McCormack as the male escort is confident, likeable, very empathetic, smart and funny, and also with an interesting past. An unconventional couple of different ages in an unexpected situation. In the right mood, this can be a very enjoyable film, and it also has the typical British black humour. 7.5/10. (07.07.2022)

A few months ago, I stumbled upon this film and was immediately intrigued by its premise. Emma Thompson's character has never experienced an orgasm, and after her husband's death, she hires a gigolo to make it happen. It sounded like it could be a fun watch, but it turned out to be much more serious, story-driven, and dialogue-heavy than I expected. In fact, it's a perfectly executed dialogue-centric film. (07.02.2023)

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande stands especially on the excellently written script and the performances of the central couple. Emma Thompson only confirms that what a great actress she is, and it was interesting to watch her character Nancy move from a shy and self-conscious woman "past her prime" to a self-aware, self-satisfied and mature woman. Daryl McCormack, unknown to me, was a pleasant surprise and certainly didn't let himself be overshadowed by his more experienced acting partner. I enjoyed watching how, through very personal conversations, the former complete strangers became (temporary) friends/partners. At first glance, it might seem that this is a first-rate and bland conversational drama, but the film tackles a number of exceedingly compelling topics that are not commonplace in the public consciousness: the achievement of orgasm for women, the issue of sexual favours, coming to terms with one's physical appearance, interpersonal attraction, the confrontation between professional and private life, or the generation gap. Alongside this more serious level, however, the film does not forget the classic British humour. A sincere, sweetly nuanced and refreshing film! (24.07.2022)

Without researching anything about the film beforehand, I went into it expecting a fairly conventional Britcom, and I was surprised at how intimate, dialogue-rich and actor-exposed a conversation piece it ended up being. And it is funny, thought-provoking, engaging and bold, though perhaps a little too literal at times (which doesn't matter too much here, thankfully). [KVIFF 2022] (16.07.2022)