In the opera biopic “Florence Foster Jenkins,” it ain’t over ’til the deluded lady sings.
Meryl Streep plays the aging socialite of the title, a woman who is not very talented, but wholly convinced that she is. In a newly released trailer for trailer for the film, Jenkins says, “Music is my life.”
And while the real Jenkins was a young piano prodigy, the music in her fingers didn’t quite translate to her voice box. She gave her first singing performance at the age of 44 and was convinced that the audience laughter during her arias were “hoodlums… planted by her rivals.”
The socialite steadily gained notoriety over the years for her annual concerts, culminating in a sold-out Carnegie Hall recital. Despite her lack of skill, Jenkins captivated audiences with her heart and spirit. And her performances were almost so bad they were good.
“The lady is a lesson in courage and that’s why we love her,” explains one of her admirers.
The new spot for the film highlights Florence’s relationship with her common law husband (Hugh Grant), who struggles to do right by his beloved: Should he encourage her to follow her dreams or save her from herself?
“Florence Foster Jenkins” opens in the U.K. on May 6. We eagerly anticipate a U.S. release date. Rebecca Ferguson and Nina Arianda co-star.
Venice Film Festival hit “Marguerite,” which is loosely based on Jenkins, hits U.S. theaters March 11.