I'm with Imogen Sara Smith on this: THE FAN is an improvement on its source material, a wistful comedy-melodrama with fine performances and strong direction. Some have complained that the postwar scenes are pointless, but I think they add a bittersweet dimension to the story. The impoverished London setting contrasts starkly with the beautiful Victorian London we see in the main story, making Mrs. Erlynne's recollections of this bygone world all the more precious. There is a Proustian quality to it, as another reviewer has pointed out.
Performances are strong across the board, but Madeline Carroll is the standout. I often associate her with the Flavia character in the 1937 PRISONER OF ZENDA, but she gets a much meatier role here. She wisely underplays the more sentimental elements of the character, making her maternal affections more organic. George Saunders is wonderful too, giving his rogue a wistful edge that elevates the material.
Ignore the critics and enjoy.
Performances are strong across the board, but Madeline Carroll is the standout. I often associate her with the Flavia character in the 1937 PRISONER OF ZENDA, but she gets a much meatier role here. She wisely underplays the more sentimental elements of the character, making her maternal affections more organic. George Saunders is wonderful too, giving his rogue a wistful edge that elevates the material.
Ignore the critics and enjoy.