Harry Potter Star Shines in Career-Best Role
Fiona Shaw Shines in New Drama "Park Avenue"
Fiona Shaw has delivered one of her most compelling performances yet in the new drama "Park Avenue." At 67, the Irish actress continues to prove why she is considered a true icon of the screen. Her ability to transform into any character, across various genres, is nothing short of remarkable.
From her role as a headteacher with a love for double entendres in Three Men and a Little Lady to her portrayal of a dry, humor-resistant therapist in Fleabag, Shaw has consistently demonstrated her versatility. Now, in Gaby Dellal’s Park Avenue, she shines alongside Katherine Waterston and Chaske Spencer, delivering a performance that could be her career highlight.
In the film, Shaw plays Kit DeMille, a writer in New York who is on the verge of a major career milestone while struggling with mortality and a complex relationship with her daughter, Charlotte. The film is not strictly a comedy or a heartbreaking drama; instead, it offers a realistic depiction of life, capturing both its highs and lows.
The performances in Park Avenue are exceptional, particularly the central relationship between Kit and Charlotte. Shaw's portrayal of Kit is a masterclass in emotional nuance, as her character shifts between lucid and confused, kind and cruel, powerful and frail. Her transformation into Kit is complete, and this layered character is sure to capture your heart—after initially breaking it with her designer shoes.
While the film starts at a slow pace, which helps to develop the characters and setting, some scenes could have been trimmed to enhance the narrative flow.
Set in New York, the film showcases stunning real-life locations, primarily taking place in a luxury apartment building on Park Avenue. The story follows Kit, a wealthy resident of an older, luxurious apartment, whose life is disrupted when her estranged daughter, Charlotte, leaves behind her life as a rancher in Colorado and starts anew in New York.
Charlotte, rather than telling her mother she has left her husband, claims she is visiting to attend her mother’s book launch. Meanwhile, Kit keeps her illness a secret from her daughter, confiding only in her doorman, Anders, and maintaining appearances with her neighbors and other characters in her life.
The film explores the tense and complicated relationship between Kit and Charlotte, marked by constant lies and sharp exchanges. It delves into a mother-daughter dynamic that only mothers and daughters can truly understand—one filled with unconditional love and closeness, but also with cruelty and harsh words.
Over the course of 1 hour and 45 minutes, Charlotte falls back into familiar patterns by rekindling a childhood romance, while Kit’s defenses begin to break down as her illness forces her to confront her reality. As the story unfolds, so do the secrets, especially those surrounding Charlotte’s father’s sudden death, which has haunted their lives for decades.
Despite the strong performances, the dialogue in parts of the film feels flat, and even the confident deliveries fail to sell every line. The slow build lacks enough comedic elements to keep the film engaging, and it can feel somewhat dull in the beginning.
On the other hand, some emotionally heavy scenes don’t receive enough time to fully resonate, resulting in moments that may not pack the emotional impact they could have. While Park Avenue is not entirely greater than the sum of its parts, it remains a triumph for Shaw and Waterston.
Park Avenue is set to be released in UK and Irish cinemas on November 14, 2025.
