The Great Escaper

Two of Britain’s finest actors – Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson – pair for a tale of later life independence that’s torn from the headlines. Bernard Jordan (Caine) has never returned to France since his time on the battlefields of World War II. As the seventieth anniversary of the Normandy landings approaches, he is grounded by the care home workers who control his life. But spurred on by fellow resident Norma (Jackson), he makes a break for it, becoming a national sensation in the process. 

As warm as you’d expect from Caine and Jackson, this is a film with real heart. Based on a true story from 2014, it’s sweet and devilish, unpatronizing about the potential for the elderly to make the most of life. It’s a fitting tribute to Glenda Jackson, who sadly passed away after production.