Song for Marion

Certificate PG, 93 minutes, ★★★★★★★★☆☆

I can't help thinking I must be turning into a Saga Lout... Hot on the heels of Dusting Hoffman's Quartet, Paul Andrew Williams' gran-com stars Terence Stamp as grumpy pensioner Arthur and Vanessa Redgrave as his ever cheerful wife, Marion. Marion's joy in life is singing with a local choir, the "OAPz", led by Elizabeth (Gemma Aterton)

When Marion succumbs to a long-standing illness, Arthur tries to hide away, but through perseverance, Elizabeth eventually brings him out of his shell, into the choir, and helps rebuild the relationship with his estranged son (Christopher Eccleston).

This film is bound to be compared against Quartet, since both are about old people singing, but I have to say I think this is the better film. Sure it's less glitzy and is obviously made on a shoestring, but it wears its heart on its sleeve, and it doesn't pull its punches: unlike Quartet, we do get the magic song finale, and very fine it is too.

Worth seeing just for the 80-somethings belting out "Let's talk about sex, baby..." 8/10