June Squibb and Erin Kellyman Hit All The Right Notes in ‘Eleanor the Great’ – Review

Nothing good comes from lies; a lesson that Eleanor (June Squibb) learns the hard way in Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut, Eleanor the Great.

After the heart-wrenching loss of her best friend and roommate, Bess (Rita Zohar), Eleanor embarks on a journey to Manhattan, a city she’s never experienced at the age of 94. Her daughter, Lisa (Jessica Hecht), and grandson, Max (Will Price), accompany her, as Lisa’s full-time job leaves her concerned about Eleanor’s solitude. To alleviate this, she enrolls Eleanor in a showtune singing class at the JCC.

Rita Zohar as Bess and June Squibb as Eleanor in Eleanor the Great. — Rita Zohar as Bessie and June Squibb as Eleanor in *Eleanor the Great*. (Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics)

On her first day, Eleanor’s immediate reaction to the singing class is a hard pass. However, when she meets a friendly woman named Vera (Lauren Klein) who is having some trouble with the zipper of her sweater, Eleanor thinks that maybe she will be able to make some new friends. When Vera asks Eleanor if she’s there for the class, she responds with a nod. However, she doesn’t realize that Vera is not there for the singing class, but in attendance for a different group: a Holocaust survivor group.

Eleanor’s first thought is to flee the meeting, as she doesn’t belong. However, when asked to stay and share her story, she can’t help but tell the story of her best friend, Bessie, under the guise that it’s her own. A student journalist, Nina (Erin Kellyman), attending the class, is struck by Eleanor’s story and wants to profile her for a piece. At first, Eleanor declines, but eventually, she changes her mind, and she and Nina develop a friendship. That said, at some point, the truth always comes to light.

June Squibb as Eleanor and Erin Kellyman as Nina in Eleanor the Great. — June Squibb as Eleanor and Erin Kellyman as Nina in *Eleanor the Great*. (Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics)

With a story by Tory Kamen, Johansson’s directorial debut is generally a crowd-pleaser. While it explores heavy themes, such as the Holocaust and the many forms that grief takes, it also features moments of levity and humour. The film is at its best when it focuses on the various relationships within the story, including Eleanor’s friendships with Bessie and Nina, her new home life with her daughter, Lisa, and Nina’s relationship with her father, Roger (Chiwetel Ejiofor). The humanity, kindness, sadness and anger showcased in these various relationships are ones that most people can connect to and identify with. Whether losing your best friend or family member, we’ve all been there at some point in our lives. It never gets any easier, but the people we surround ourselves with during our grief can change the way we experience our losses, offering a sense of shared experience and understanding. This is where the film’s writing shines.

Of course, this wouldn’t be possible without the impeccable performances of the cast. June Squibb and Erin Kellyman are absolutely phenomenal. Whether together or on their own, both leading ladies steal the show and are a joy to watch on-screen. The dynamic duo have impeccable comedic timing (when necessary), and are equally excellent in the film’s more emotionally charged moments. It makes for a match made in heaven, and you’re rooting for Eleanor and Nina’s friendship from the very beginning. While the two are in different stages of their lives, they find a common ground in their loss of loved ones. The two find comfort with each other as they navigate their grief, and it shows how some aspects of one’s life can transcend anything created by a difference in age or generation.

June Squibb as Eleanor, Erin Kellyman as Nina, and Chiwetel Ejiofor as Roger in Eleanor the Great. — June Squibb as Eleanor, Erin Kellyman as Nina, and Chiwetel Ejiofor as Roger in *Eleanor the Great*. (Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics)

In addition, Rita Zohar shines as Bessie. Whether sharing a laugh at the table with Squibb’s Eleanor or recounting her survival stories, there’s not a moment where Zohar’s performance doesn’t tug at your heartstrings. Again, there is that shared experience when it comes to fun and friendship, as well as trauma and grief, and Zohar is pitch-perfect in every line delivery. Chiwetel Ejiofor and Jessica Hecht may not have as much screentime as their counterparts, but their presence is always felt. The pair’s characters have to navigate the new normal in their lives. While Hecht has a new addition in her home (her mother, Eleanor), Ejiofor is dealing with the loss of a loved one, creating an emptiness in the house he shares with his daughter, Nina. While both characters are dealing with differences in their home lives, both actors give believable performances throughout the movie.

While the film may not be for everyone, as some might find the extent of Eleanor’s charade to be far-fetched, I can agree to an extent because the movie really makes you wonder who would claim someone else’s Holocaust survival story as their own. As the film progresses, viewers realize that Eleanor sharing Bessie’s stories is a way of keeping her and her memory alive, even if she’s doing so in a manner most would consider unethical. With scene-stealing performances from Squibb and Kellyman, this movie is worth a watch for them and the rest of the cast alone. All in all, Eleanor the Great is an enjoyable movie that is sure to tug at your heartstrings.