Watched in the cinema (155th visit in 2024)

Some people become stars as a child through acting. For others, however, it takes a little longer - after all, it's hard to plan a breakthrough like that. But June Squibb is a real extreme case. She only started appearing regularly in front of the camera in the 1990s - when she was already more than 60 years old. She didn't actually become famous until 2013, when she received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for "Nebraska". Since then, she has been in high demand and her filmography has grown considerably. And yet we had to wait until 2024 for her to make her debut as a leading actress in "Thelma". At almost 95 years old, that's probably a record. And even if it isn't, it's impressive what she gets out of her role.

However, you shouldn't go to the movies with the wrong expectations. The movie is described several times as an action comedy. But this categorization can be ignored. Sure, there is a kind of car chase, and later a weapon is used. But it all happens at such a slow pace that you can hardly call it action. After all, we are dealing with a protagonist for whom getting onto a bed is a major challenge in itself. That sounds ridiculous, but it's not really. Unlike some comedies about old people, "Thelma" doesn't make fun of them or the others. Even the scenes in which the titular heroine threatens to fail at very simple tasks such as closing advertisements on the computer do not degrade her to a joke character. The fact that Thelma is quite naive, not only with regard to the scam, even makes her likeable.

If director and screenwriter Josh Margolin treats her with a lot of warmth, this is also due to biographical reasons: in his feature film debut, he uses his own grandmother as a role model, who we are allowed to see briefly in the credits. Even the slightly mocking winking moments have become affectionate as a result. However, "Thelma" certainly wants to draw attention to serious issues. When Thelma is irritated to discover that almost her entire circle of friends has died and she has no one to turn to, the problem of loneliness naturally also resonates. The shame of having been so easily betrayed affects her just as much as the feeling that she can no longer manage anything without help. This is mirrored by her grandson, who is also going through a personal crisis, albeit for different reasons.

In this way, the film offers a nice mixture of heart and humor, but also shows bite instead of simply making itself comfortable with feel-good kitsch. Nevertheless, the comedy is a crowdpleaser. It is not without reason that almost all the reviews are positive. June Squibb has a significant part to play in this. The mixture of wit, charm and determination with which she plays her character is so irresistible that you almost have to like the movie. And even if "Thelma" is a late triumph, perhaps even the highlight of the late veteran's career, one can only hope that she will be granted a few more - and the audience too.