Every life holds a story worth telling—if only someone is there to listen. Memory, however, is fragile. It can blur details, twist emotions, or even create illusions that make us question what really happened. That is why stories must be shared with people who care—not only about the tale itself but about the soul behind it—so the essence of those moments can live on.
Eleanor (June Squibb) is 94 years old, yet her spirit is as lively as ever. Quick-witted, sharp-eyed, and endlessly patient, she spends her days in the company of her dearest friend, Bessie (Rita Zohar). They are inseparable, sharing laughter, tears, and the small rituals that make each day whole. But when Bessie passes away, Eleanor’s world is shattered. With little choice, she moves in with her daughter Lisa (Jessica Hecht) and grandson Max (Will Price)—a decision that alters her life in ways she never imagined.
To help Eleanor adjust, Lisa encourages her to join the JCC Community Center, where she finds herself in a support group for Holocaust survivors. There, she begins to recount a story filled with resilience, loss, and survival. The group listens with reverence, moved to tears by her words. Yet the story is not hers—it belonged to Bessie.
When Nina, a student grieving her own mother, hears Eleanor’s testimony, she is struck by its power and decides to publish it. Eleanor reluctantly agrees, unaware of how quickly the story will spread, drawing attention that makes it nearly impossible to conceal the truth.
Scarlett Johansson’s Eleanor the Great, her first effort as a director, is quietly dazzling. Her approach is gentle yet assured, allowing humor, tragedy, and tenderness to blend seamlessly. It’s a film about friendship, memory, and the delicate balance between truth and legacy.
In the end, the story reminds us that while lives eventually end, memory does not have to. Stories, when shared, can outlast their tellers. At one point Bessie confides, “I am the only one alive who remembers my brother.” What she couldn’t have known was that, even after her passing, her brother’s memory—and her own—would continue to live on in the hearts of others. That is what makes Eleanor the Great so stirring and unforgettable.