If you like your films quaint, charming and gently-paced, you’re bound to fall for romantic period drama Ladies In Lavender from 2004.
The film stars two magnificent dames, Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, plus another equally beguiling screen presence, Miriam Margoyles.
They play the ladies of the title, who rescue a soggy, and very handsome, Polish violinist (Daniel Brühl) from certain death after he washes up on their beach, and nurse him back to health.
But where was this gorgeous story filmed and where is the story supposed to be set?
The film is set in Cornwall, in a small fishing village, in 1936.
However, the original short story on which the screenplay is based was written in 1908 by William J. Locke.
The film’s exteriors were shot on location at four coastal spots – Cadgwith, Helston, St. Ives and Prussia Cove, all in Cornwall.
All those locations are fairly far apart, which Cornish people are bound to notice and point out as a potential plot hole, seeing as it’s all set in one village.
Interiors were filmed at the Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, where countless films have been shot.
It’s no wonder writer-director Charles Dance wanted to tell such a tale in Cornwall, one of the most beautiful counties in the UK, which appears untouched by the 21st century in many places.
Both Maggie Smith and Judi Dench stated that they didn’t even read the script before agreeing to do it, despite it being Dance’s debut movie.
Their characters are sisters, and Toby Jones also has a part in it as Hedley, alongside his real-life father Freddie as Jan Pendered.
Ladies In Lavender was the first English language film for German-Spanish actor Brühl.
He has gone on to appear in films like Inglourious Basterds, The Bourne Ultimatum and A Most Wanted Man.
