Thelma

An inspiring little film confronting age and death.

June Squibb, 94 years of age, plays Thelma Post, a 93-year-old widow conned out of $10,000. She received a phone call from someone posing as her grandson (Fred Hechinger) and you watch her try to reclaim her money.

Thelma lives alone after her husband died two years earlier. Though she has a loving daughter (Parker Posey) and son-in-law (Clark Gregg), she sets out with Ben, an old friend, played by Richard Roundtree, on a treacherous journey across Los Angeles.

What makes the movie so special is that Thelma and Ben ride a 2-person scooter given that neither has a car. Ben was living in an assisted living center and helped her steal a gun from a friend.

Ms. Squibb deserves an Oscar consideration given her darling performance at the tender age of 94. On top of that, this was Mr. Roundtree’s final performance given his recent death. You watch Thelma wave goodbye to him and suspect the film audience will be doing the same thing.

While Thelma misses her husband, she is nobly not succumbing to old age. She loves her 24-year-old grandson and she wants to make every second count.

It was an inspirational performance.