At 95 years old, June Squibb delivers a charming performance in her latest film, Eleanor the Great, a tender and unexpected story about grief, guilt, and the friendships that catch us by surprise. The film, directed by Scarlett Johansson in her feature debut, we follow Eleanor, a woman navigating the loss and loneliness in the wake of her best friend’s death. only to find a new kind of connection through an unlikely friendship with Nina, a young woman played with nuance and charisma by Erin Kellyman.

As we move the film and learn more about Eleanor and the “bad” thing she does Squibb as Eleanor, impossible to dislike. Even when her own character is lying or being selfish, you catch yourself showing her empathy. At 95, Squibb commands the screen, fragile, witty, and feisty.

One of my favorite aspects of the film is the friendship between Eleanor and Nina, played by Erin Kellyman. Their interactions are some of the most special in the movie. It’s uncommon to witness intergenerational relationships that aren’t connected by family like this captured so authentically. surprising, rich, and profoundly emotional.

It’s Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut, and it’s a welcome one. She plumps for visceral, emotional close-ups, especially of Eleanor and isn’t afraid to make us squirm in discomfort. There are moments that are surprisingly intimate, almost raw. The camera lingers, but it never quite pushes into exploitative.

It’s compelling is how Johansson weighs the dark subject matter specifically the Holocaust memorial subthread that weaves throughout the narrative. It’s a tricky balance, and the film doesn’t always succeed at walking it perfectly, but it is certainly attempting something genuine .

Overall, Eleanor the Great is a sweet debut peppered with moments that push…slightly. It’s about loss, friendship, redemption, and how unlikely relationships can transform us.