Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is a charming film, elevated by a luminous lead performance.

The latest star turn from long-time critical favourite Lesley Manville as the hilarious titular role, sees her showing off comedy chops, while delivering the teary drama with aplomb.

This is the kind of film that could easily have devolved into a twee, saccharine pile of half-baked jokes and armchair philosophy, but walks the line admirably.

Manville, a long-time Mike Leigh collaborator, this time turns out with relative newcomer on this scale, Anthony Fabian.

She finds herself back in the world of haute couture mid-century fashion, as she had previously in Phantom Thread.

This time it is from the outside looking in however, and Manville‘s Mrs. Harris is equal parts proud and unsure of herself in the impossibly chic Paris fashion world, where models read Sartre.

It is a film about wish fulfillment, but also of loss, existentialism and evaluating the importance of material possessions.

Mild spoilers to follow

Mrs. Harris is a maid to the upper crust in 1950s London, living a small but vibrant life after losing her husband in the war.

She is part hired help, part mother to the bratty daughter and part psychologist to the dreadful mother who all think she’s invisible until needed.

After spotting a Christian Dior dress that the madame of the house brought home, Mrs. Harris becomes obsessed with getting one of her own.

She works extra hours, bets on greyhounds, saves the war widower’s pension and does anything else she needs to get to Paris to do so.

There she meets an eccentric cast of characters who warm to her and hate what she represents in equal measure.

Isabelle Huppert is great as the villainous Claudine Colbert, who thinks the run-of-the-mill Mrs. Harris will water down what Dior represents.

She also meets charming accountant Andre Fauvel (Lucas Bravo) and model Natasha (Alba Baptista) however, who despite appearing as insiders, find similarities with Mrs. Harris’ plight.

Naturally, there is romance and drama and beautiful fashion in good measure too.

Although the third act is a little sentimental, it ties up the film with a nice bow that will make your mom smile.

This is not the kind of film that will make huge waves at the box office or at awards shows, but it certainly is worth the watch.

Manville is worth the price of admission alone. Coming to cinemas on September 30.

Rated PG.
4/5.

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