The 2016 biographical period drama Florence Foster Jenkins, starring Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant, will air on BBC Two tonight, October 1, at 11.05pm. The film has been described by critics and fans as a 'rare' and 'brilliant masterpiece'.
A star-studded cast and true story
Directed by Stephen Frears with a screenplay co-written by Nicholas Martin and Julia Kogan, the comedy period drama tells the true story of a New York heiress known for her generosity and her horrendous singing — a fact seemingly unknown to her alone. Streep and Grant are joined by Simon Helberg, Rebecca Ferguson, Nina Arianda, Stanley Townsend, Allan Corduner and Christian McKay.
The official plot states: “In the 1940s, New York socialite Florence Foster Jenkins dreams of becoming a great opera singer. Unfortunately, her ambition far exceeds her talent. The voice Florence hears in her head is beautiful, but to everyone else it is quite lousy. Her husband St. Clair goes to extreme lengths to make sure his wife never finds out how awful she truly is. When Florence announces her plans for a concert at Carnegie Hall, St. Clair soon realizes that he's facing his greatest challenge yet.”
Filming and critical acclaim
Florence Foster Jenkins was released in the UK on May 6, 2016, with filming taking place in Liverpool the previous year in 2015. Streep and Grant were spotted shooting in Liverpool's Drury Lane, which was transformed into 1940s New York City and Central Park West.
The film was a critical darling, earning Streep a Best Actress Academy Award nomination and a Best Costume Design Oscar nomination. It also received four Golden Globe Award nominations, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. At the box office, it gathered a worldwide total of $56 million against an estimated production budget of $29 million.
Critics and audience reactions
With an 87% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, one critic said: “Director [Stephen] Frears has created a beautifully done film with good costuming, street scenes of old New York and first class performances.” Another added: “Florence Foster Jenkins is an interesting film incredibly pleasant on the surface, and profoundly honest at its core.”
Audience reviews have been equally glowing. One fan wrote: “A rare thing that delivers both drama and comedy, mostly thanks to the excellent central trio of performances. You start by laughing at the delusion and the squawk, but it does a great job of bringing you on FFJ's side by showing her genuine passion for music, so that by the end you are willing her to hit that note. Very sentimental but earns it.” Another viewer said: “A truly entertaining film that runs the gamut of emotion. I chortled, laughed, gasped, hooted, wept and sighed. Streep and Hugh Grant are brilliant. Even if a few liberties were taken, they can be forgiven. The essence of Florence comes through. What a deliciously wonderful movie.”
Florence Foster Jenkins airs on BBC Two tonight, October 1, at 11.05pm.
