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Quote of the week: Lily Tomlin in Grandma

— by Alyson Walsh

Grandma, Lily Tomlin this image rel

Aren’t end-of-the-year highlights lists useful? These days, I can never remember which films I’ve seen (apart from the most recent), so I like a good round-up. One film I won’t have a problem remembering is Grandma. Lily Tomlin is ace as the 70-something academic and poet in this warm, funny, feisty film. In the process of ‘transmogrifying her life’ Tomlin has cut up her credit cards and turned them into a wind chime, so when granddaughter Sage (Julia Garner) comes to her for financial help – pregnant and in need of funds for an abortion – the pair set off on a road trip in an attempt to raise the cash. Grandma properly sorts out Sage’s loser boyfriend before visiting old haunts: coffee shops, tattoo parlours, former lovers, to collect debts and loudly broadcast Sage’s predicament. When asked by Tomlin when her last period was, ’10 weeks ago,’ whispers the mortified teenager, ‘Mine was 25 years ago,’ bellows Grandma.

This is a film about family, feminism and finding your way through life, at every stage. Grandma we love you.

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Aren’t end-of-the-year highlights lists useful? These days, I can never remember which films I’ve seen (apart from the most recent), so I like a good round-up.