The 2016 biographical period drama Florence Foster Jenkins, starring Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant, airs on BBC Two tonight, October 1, at 11.05pm. The film has been described as a 'rare' and 'brilliant masterpiece'.
A star-studded cast and true story
The comedy period drama features Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant in the central roles, with support from Simon Helberg, Rebecca Ferguson, Nina Arianda, Stanley Townsend, Allan Corduner, and Christian McKay. Directed by Stephen Frears with a screenplay co-written by Nicholas Martin and Julia Kogan, the film tells the true story of a New York heiress known for her generosity and her dreadful singing voice.
The official synopsis reads: "In the 1940s, New York socialite Florence Foster Jenkins dreams of becoming a great opera singer. Unfortunately, her ambition far exceeds her talent." It adds that her husband St. Clair goes to extreme lengths to keep her from discovering how awful she truly is, but faces his greatest challenge when she announces plans for a concert at Carnegie Hall.
Critical acclaim and awards
Florence Foster Jenkins was released in the UK on May 6, 2016, with filming in Liverpool the previous year. Streep earned a Best Actress Academy Award nomination, and the production received a Best Costume Design Oscar nomination. It also picked up four Golden Globe Award nominations, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
The film holds an 87% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and grossed $56 million worldwide against an estimated production budget of $29 million. Critics praised the direction and performances, with one writing: "Director [Stephen] Frears has created a beautifully done film with good costuming, street scenes of old New York and first class performances."
Audience reactions
Audience reviews have been equally positive. One fan wrote: "A rare thing that delivers both drama and comedy, mostly thanks to the excellent central trio of performances." Another said: "One of the craziest biopics ever told, Meryl Streep is absolutely hilarious." A further review described it as "a truly entertaining film that runs the gamut of emotion."
One IMDB user called it "a delightful, tragically funny and touching masterpiece in every which way." Florence Foster Jenkins airs on BBC Two tonight at 11.05pm.
