Another Year

I was lucky enough to be given guestlist +1 for this films premiere in Prague on Wednesday night last. Although none of the stars were there we were given a short introduction by the distributors as well as after show refreshments. None of that is important however, the real star is the movie here. I can take or leave Mike Leigh films but this was a standout classic. The usual social commentary and realism feel that you get from Leigh films is here at its devestating best. It will have you laughing one minute and hurting the next, empathising with each and every character and the hand that life has dealt them. The film unfolds over the course of four seasons, each bringing a new layer to the last whilst still holding a continuation of theme.
The writing throughout hits every right note and brought to life brilliantly by the cast. It seems unfair to single out any one individual in the acting stakes as all were brilliant but the performance of Lesley Manville as the desperate alcoholic Mary deserves special recognition. She steals every scene with her humour mixed with desperation.
This is a tale that speaks to all those who live on the margins of so called normal life, somehow cast adrift of the normality which is daily for most. This may have come about by bereavement as is the case with one of the characters or simply by bad luck. There is no happy ending here to tie it all up nicely. Instead there is that lingering shot of Mary taking the film out to its conclusion. We are left to ponder and that is in fact the perfect ending and one which I'm sure Leigh was striving for.
Do yourself a favour and go see this movie. It is one of the best I have seen.