When Eleanor, a witty and garrulous 94-year-old (June Squibb)
finds herself unintentionally part of a Holocaust survivor’s
support group, she reluctantly relates an amazing and moving
true story of unbelievable suffering, loss and identity.

The only small problem is that it’s not her story, but that of her
recently deceased best friend. Eleanor is from Des Moines. Each
time this charismatic charlatan tries set the record straight and
back out, the story attracts more media attention, including a
project by a trusting student reporter and live interview on a
noted news show.

Scarlett Johansson’s well-meaning directorial effort is being
described as “capable,” which is probably less than she was
shooting for. She gets the job done, but the result is frequently
baffling, lacks narrative logic and has a definite made-for-TV
sentimentality. That Squibb and supporting actors Erin Kellyman
(who impressed in the two 28 Years Later films) and the always-
good Chiwetel Eijofor manage to turn this into a borderline
watchable sit is impressive.

Bottom line: too many subplots, some even comical; it’s more
than a little predictable; it’s tonally unbalanced, and, ironically,
much like its central character, the film leans into its subject
matter for unearned emotion. (98 min)