'Lady' on Fire: The Scintillating Journey of Aristocrat Turned Eccentric Diva

Everyone enjoys a good old-fangled ribbing at the expense of the English aristocracy, right? And when it comes to the ridiculously wealthy and increasingly out-of-touch upper echelons, the jesting almost writes itself. Enter "Lady," a hilarious and endearing portrayal of a highborn woman teetering on the edge of relevance. With a distinctly zany tone, the movie puts a whole new spin on the mockumentary genre by not just ribbing one kooky aristocrat, but linking her with a young middle-class filmmaker in search of a story. Despite the seemingly repeated jests, this debut feature from writer-director Samuel Abrahams is ridden with comedic gold thanks to the powerhouse performance of its leading lady, Sian Clifford.

Clifford, a BAFTA winner and Emmy nominee, finally claims the spotlight after years of supporting roles, including her stint outshining Phoebe Waller-Bridge in “Fleabag.” Long perceived as a gifted wallflower, Clifford bursts onto the scene in "Lady", feverishly embracing the role of Lady Isabella Ravenhyde, a filthy rich narcissist recklessly seeking attention. Clifford dives headfirst into the character with the tenacity of an actor savouring a role this flavourful.

The plot of "Lady" flitters around a documentary-in-progress that underscores Lady Isabella's yearning for recognition. As she sets out for some real-time reality TV stardom, Lady Isabella makes for some side-splitting entertainment. This screams rather comically of Lisa Kudrow’s exquisite performance in “The Comeback.” While in two different social languages, Lady Isabella and Valerie Cherish would definitely have some amusing anecdotes to share.

Let's bring Sam (Laurie Kynaston), a young, shy filmmaker into the picture. As Lady Isabella busily showcases her extravagant lifestyle, Sam is lured into the eccentric aristocrat's tangled web of lies. Albeit with a surprising twist, Lady Isabella's idea of keeping the camera rolling does yield some eminently watchable shenanigans.

Amid the eccentricities, Lady Isabella jokingly claims to be the "aristocracy’s answer to the Kardashians". Even though a cutting parody of the elite, "Lady" brilliantly captures how media climate can make the wealthy almost believe they were born to be stars. From her signature tepid Bloody Marys to peculiar demands thrown at her maid Becky (Juliet Cowan), Clifford makes every moment in front of the camera count.

Written by Abrahams and Miranda Campbell Bowling, "Lady" is a delightful mix of pithy one-liners and fun gags. The plot might be lightweight, but it's just the backdrop for a remarkably engaging character study with a stellar lead performance. Not to forget, the whimsical costumes by Terri Higgins and effervescent editing by Josh Mallalieu that contribute to the film’s appeal.

On the surface, "Lady" might seem like a quick-witted roasting of the upper class. But at the heart of it is a tour-de-force performance by Clifford that keeps audiences glued to the screen. So, here’s a toast (preferably Bloody Mary) to this delightful derision of the elite.