An unlikely Lolita

A positively ancient looking Peter O'Toole (Lawrence of Arabia, The Ruling Class) gives a stunning performance as septuagenarian finding the obscure object of his desire an unruly teenager hardly old enough to be his granddaughter (at O'Toole's age, he could be father to James Mason in the Kubrick film Lolita)

This is a curiously unsettling yet moving study about old age and loneliness, exploring also the usually taboo subject of sexual frustrations in the elderly. Without holding back it shows some unpalatable aspects of old age, something we all face. You squirm in your seat at times watching what life can become, despite uplifting scenes and comedy as O'Toole trying to catch a glimpse of the near naked model crashes through the door in the art studio. Then we shudder at the toenail clipping in his pocket at the payout counter, the prostate cancer examination, or the leaking catheter. Certainly a warts and all view of the aging process. What lifts all this above the average is O'Tooles five star performance, among his best and he remains one of the great actors of our time. It's certainly once more award winning material.

Maurice (Peter O'Toole) and Ian (Leslie Phillips) are friends, latter day thespians who were famous years ago. They regularly meet at a coffee shop to discuss the obituaries and support each other in their autumn years. Maurice has a minor part in a TV production as dying patient, lighting a cigarette as soon as he is wheeled off the set. Ian is excited his grand niece Jessie (Jodie Whittaker) is coming to stay with him from the country, he thinks she'll be able to look after him as a kind of live in nurse.

Unfortunately Jessie is not what Ian expected, she's a tough indolent teenager with no social graces who aspires to be a fashion model (in fact Jodie Whittaker could have auditioned for Suburban Mayhem) but Maurice takes a shine to her. Seeing her perhaps in a Pygmalion light, he escorts her around London after obtaining her a job as an art model. This very unlikely association has sexual overtones for Maurice though strictly limited by Jessie as she seems only interested in money and modeling not ancient blokes fondling her breasts. Then she gets a dubious boy friend in tow with dire results, although in the end we are to believe she has a heart of gold.

It's bittersweet with humourous and heartwarming moments but the overall atmosphere is a trifle bleak, with uncomfortably realistic performances from the cast especially O'Toole, well supported by veteran Leslie Philips (Colour Me Kubrick), with Vanessa Redgrave and Richard Griffiths in cameo roles. There is a brilliant sequence between O'Toole and Redgrave, showing their age but commanding presence on the screen. Jodie Whittaker (Dalziel & Pascoe; Fallen Angel) has a demanding role because she appears to be the last person the cultured Maurice would take interest and she has to manage some character changes, yet she seems to be quite at home working with her highly talented and famous co-star.

The title refers to the art modeling career Jessie takes on reluctantly, Maurice convinces her to take her clothes off after a visit to see Velazquez's The Toilet of Venus at the National Gallery, on which the last scene in the film provides a cheeky visual comment. Scripted by Hanif Kureishi (My Beautiful Laundrette) and competently directed by Roger Michell (Persuasion, The Mother, Notting Hill) making much of the contrast in close ups of lined faces of the aged with the smooth skin of the teenage girl. Certainly a film you won't forget in a hurry with its sincere performances.

John Bale

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Venus

Our rating:

Director: Roger Michell
Cast: Peter O'Toole, Leslie Phillips, Vanessa Redgrave and Jodie Whittaker
Release: 22 February 2007
Rated: MA 15+

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