Thelma (12A)
Directed by Josh Margolin
★★★★★
 

THE realities of getting old are examined and celebrated in this hilarious yet poignant lo-fi action-comedy meets family-drama, which puts a gran in her 90s in the driving seat as an unlikely action hero. 
 
Written, directed and edited by Josh Margolin, it is inspired by the real-life experience of his own grandmother and was shot in her condo. 
 
It follows 93-year-old Thelma (June Squibb, also executive producer) who, after being duped by a phone scammer (Malcolm McDowell) out of $10,000, and spurred on by Tom Cruise and his Mission Impossible films, decides to hunt them down and get her money back. Think  elderly equivalent of Jason Statham in The Beekeeper.
 
She attempts to steal her old friend Ben’s (Richard Roundtree, who died last year) scooter for her quest but he insists on accompanying her telling her “we’re old, diminished... the least we can do is take care of each other.” Meanwhile she ditches her grandson/carer Daniel (Fred Hechinger, executive producer) and his parents (Parker Posey and Clark Clegg) who patronise her and treat her like a child, insisting she wear a wrist tracker. 
 
Squibb, in her first starring role in 70 years, delivers a powerhouse performance full of grit, determination and wondrous spirit alongside a captivating Roundtree and a heartfelt turn by Hechinger. In fact, the beautiful and moving relationship between Thelma and Daniel is the beating heart of the film. 
 
Walking a fine line between humour and drama Margolin’s impressive and inventive debut feature shows us that we shouldn’t write off the elderly as old age isn’t a monolith but a series of different chapters in this sparkling gem of a must-see film. 

In cinemas July 19