1957, London and Ada Harris (Lesley Manville) is a cleaning lady who still hangs on to the possibility that her husband may one day return from the war. When she spies a Christian Dior dress at one of her customers homes she falls in love and decides to raise the funds for a trip to Paris to buy herself one. 

Through a mixture of good and bad luck Mrs. Harris finds herself with the funds needed and heads to Paris. Where she will make friends with almost everyone she meets and imbue their lives with a little bit of magic. 

She will play matchmaker for an accountant (Lucas Bravo) and a model (Alba Baptista), battle with a staunch traditionalist running the fashion house (Isabelle Huppert) and possibly kindle romantic ties with a Marquis (Lambert Wilson). Before returning home to her friends (Ellen Thomas and Jason Isaacs) and customers in London with the fruits of her visit to Paris. 

Based on a 1958 book by Paul Gallico there have already been other adaptations including a musical and a 1992 film starring Angela Lansbury. 

Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris has an awful lot in common with two other British films this year in The Duke and The Phantom Of The Open. All are light hearted British comedies that focus on a working class hero with a heart of gold. And if Mrs. Harris did not ever so slightly overstay her welcome with a running time of 115 minutes and feel slightly too long I might say it was the best of the bunch. It certainly features the best performance and best lead in Lesley Manville’s thoroughly charming Ada Harris. 

Manville, who played a similar role to Huppert in P. T. Anderson’s Phantom Thread is utterly brilliant as our heroine. A selfless woman with big dreams who makes the lives of everyone around her better. Whilst Alba Baptista brings an equal amount of charm as a model whose heart is not quite in it. 

It may well be the sort of film that will fade from memory fairly soon but whilst you are in its whimsical company you will be refreshed.