It's an underdog story tailor-made for the movies, devoid of surprises but touching all the same.

It won't do the film any harm at the box office that Helen Mirren twinkles indomitably. She's as good as ever, but really - of all the things you want to see Dame Helen doing indomitably, twinkling isn't among them.

Helen Mirren is, of course, a wonderful actress, and she brings dignity to the marvellously Euro-chic Maria, but even she can't soar above the script which veers from speechifying to banalities.

Frankly, this is all too easy and too simple for Helen Mirren and company. Despite attempts at provoking family and ancestral themes, the drama is rarely substantial enough to stir the audience.