Chichester Cinema at New Park
Another Year
Mike Leigh's latest Cannes winning film is a bitter sweet comedy drama about a couple nearing retirement, starring Jim Broadbent, Ruth Sheen and Lesley Manville.
Mike Leigh's new film is basically about a year in the life of Tom (Jim Broadbent) and Gerri (Ruth Sheen), a couple nearing retirement who spend their evenings and weekends having friends and family over for dinner. Their most frequent guest is Mary (Lesley Manville), a motor-mouthed 50-something whose liveliness covers a tragic loneliness. The film is a bittersweet, yet warm and subtly moving drama that sucks you into its marginally heightened realism.
The performances are utterly superb, especially Leslie Manville in a scene towards the end where she is alone with Tom's practically mute brother, and creates a mixture of laughter, sadness and shear joy. Imelda Staunton, (Vera Drake) is also memorable although she only appears briefly in some early scenes.
The film is an ensemble, featuring Michele Austin, David Bradley, Jim Broadbent, Phil Davis, Karina Fernandez, Oliver Maltman, Lesley Manville, Stuart McQuarrie, Martin Savage, Ruth Sheen, Imelda Staunton and Peter Wight. Of the cast of twelve, only David Bradley and Stuart McQuarrie are working with Mike Leigh for the first time. Very well received at its premiere in Cannes, as one of the best films of the Festival.
UK · 2010 · Mike Leigh · 129min
