Hull Independent Cinema: Eleanor the Great

Dir Scarlett Johansson | USA | 2025 | 98 mins | Rated 12A | English, Yiddish
94-year-old Eleanor moves from Florida to New York following the death of a longtime friend. Feeling isolated in her daughter’s busy house, she ends up in a support group for Holocaust survivors and, desperate for companionship, begins recounting her dead friend’s traumatic survivor story as if it were her own. Her tale attracts the attention of a young journalism student who pushes Eleanor to make the story public, forcing Eleanor to confront a thorny moral and emotional dilemma in a film that movingly examines themes of grief, identity and the need for human connection. Starring June Squibb, Erin Kellyman, Chiwetel Ejiofor

AWARDS AND FESTIVALS
Cannes: Nominee, Un Certain Regard, Golden Camera
Deauville FF: Winner, Audience Award; Nominee, Grand Special Prize
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards: Nominee, Best Actress, Best Intergenerational Film
REVIEWS
“The definition of truth, and the nature of grief, are explored through a salty, shrewd and satisfying performance from Squibb, who deserves and elevates all the roles that come her way.” ★★★★ Thelma Adams, AARP Movies for Grownups

“There is a complex yet recognisable psychological dynamic at work here, and Squibb navigates the muddle of it nimbly.” ★★★★ Robbie Collin, Daily Telegraph

“A heartfelt, emotionally resonant story about the power of our lives and the capacity of our stories lingering on long after we’ve left this world. Take someone you love and see it.” Kristen Lopez, The Film Maven