W2TCH

The L-Shaped Room (1962)

1962 • 2h 6m • Drama, Romance
On October 3, 2026
#39269
39269th by Pulse movie online
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CinemaSerf on The L-Shaped Room

7/10 · Nov 6, 2022

Leslie Caron delivers a notably strong performance within this unusual story about a young French woman who finds herself living in a rundown London boarding house while pregnant. At first, she’s hesitant around the other residents, but "Jane" develops a warm connection with an aspiring writer named "Toby" (played by Tom Bell), and the film follows her developing rapport with him alongside her gradual acceptance into this peculiar group of people. Two aspects particularly distinguish it: the cinematography, which feels close-up and impactful; and the inclusion of Brahms’ Piano Concerto, proving just as powerful as many of the sharp lines of dialogue. Caron shines in her role, demonstrating a self-assured and captivating presence. Tom Bell also makes a significant contribution, along with Avis Bunnage and Patricia Phoenix, and there's an undeniably positive feeling to Bryan Forbes' portrayal of what appears to be a rather bleak story about loneliness and being left behind. The film does lose some momentum in the middle section; perhaps trimming the initial character introductions would have helped, but it remains engaging for two hours and addresses mature themes with a surprising degree of honesty and believability – especially considering when it was made.

Source on TMDB