Directed by Scarlett Johannson, Eleanor the Great tells the story of Eleanor Morgenstein (June Squibb), a widow who lives with her best friend (and Holocaust survivor), Bessie (Rita Zohar). Together, the two are inseparable. But, after Bessie’s sudden passing, Eleanor’s world is upended. Forced to move in with her estranged daughter (Jessica Hecht) in Manhatten, she feels lost and very lonely in the big city. Things change though when Eleanor accidentally finds herself in a Holocaust survivor’s group at the local community centre. When asked to share her story, the non-Jewish Eleanor makes a grievous error by telling Bessie’s story as her own. While she’s uncomfortable, the lie feels innocent enough, until a young reporter (Erin Kellyman) smells a story and latches on to Eleanor, creating chaos in her home.
Simply put, June Squibb is a national treasure that must be protected at all costs.
At the age of 94, she continues to bring a balance of affability and ferocity that feels rare. And, as Eleanor, she sparkles once again. Despite the obviously dark implications of her ‘little white lie’, we still empathize with her journey. We believe that her sharing of Bessie’s story stems not out of a need for self-importance but, rather, a need for relationships. Left emotionally adrift after her friend’s passing, her pain drives her to speak up at a time when she should not. To be clear, the film never shrugs off her lie as unimportant. Even so, our empathy for her situation gives us slightly different lenses on the situation.
Eleanor is neither an angel nor the devil. Instead, she’s portrayed as a human that’s hurting.
In the end, Eleanor the Great proves to be the delight that its name suggests. Admittedly, the tone feels light considering the subject matter. Even so, Johannson’s first film in the director’s chair has an undeniable charm, even in moments when it takes its material very seriously. On the back of a wonderful performance by Squibb, there is much to love about Eleanor, even if you don’t agree with her actions.
Eleanor the Great is playing at TIFF ’25. For more information, click here.
