Words Glenn Blomfield

What a delightful uplifting movie this is, one of those films that has a heartwarming message for us all. We can all see ourselves in Edie, life will always have its ‘mountain’ for all of us to climb, literally and metaphorically. Edie is a story about a 83 year old woman, a restrained life. Lived by not living, a loveless and constrained marriage, fulfilled only by duty as a wife, and a mother, but never for herself. Now newly widowed, Edie took care of her demanding wheelchair bound invalid husband for 30 years. A memory from her youth now occupies her mind, an adventure she never took with her father, to climb Mount Suilven in Scotland. Edie packs up her vintage camping gear, she takes off on the imposing quest she never took.

The film can be on the heavy side of sentimentality, also relying on pushing its beautiful cinematography of the Scottish countryside. But that seems ok for this reviewer. Slightly sweeter than it needs to be, but I was warmed by Edie, played by the impressive Shelia Hancock. Maybe its because on a personal side you can relate to Edie’s story, that yearning for adventure, a reminder life is too short to be reserved. Edie’s personal quest crosses path with a youthful man, that is also on a crossroad with his life choices, they make for an unlikely pair but of course they need each other for life’s important lessons. “Climb that mountain” physically and metaphorically speaking.

Edie is a safe film, in the way, you can see where the story is going. It’s not really going to challenge you in any major surprises, but it does have a gentle way of getting into an emotional connecting core. Shelia Hancock does a delightful portrayal, that is lifting, even when she is a grumpy, old stubborn woman. But hey, we all grow up to be grumpy old people, while life is wasted on Youth, this film is a pleasant heartwarming reminder.