Drama about middle-aged friends. WithJim Broadbent,Lesley Manville. Director:Mike Leigh(2:09). PG-13: Language.
If only we could all approach life with the tranquil acceptance of Mike Leigh's longtime marrieds in his tender new drama,"Another Year."
Leigh stays true to his title, following Gerri (Ruth Sheen) and Tom (Jim Broadbent) through several rather ordinary months. They work (Tom as a geologist, Gerri as a counselor to patients includingImelda Staunton). They play, often with their affectionate adult son (Oliver Maltman). And they weather grief, when faced with death, disappointment, and the other inevitables of aging. But their equilibrium remains steady.
It's no wonder, then, that their home is the port for those who can't handle rocky seas. Most in danger of capsizing is Mary (Lesley Manville), a middle-aged divorcee whose loneliness has come to define her.
Mary is incapable of hiding a single thought, andManvilleensures we witness every painful moment of insecurity and desperation. It's a daring, if occasionally overthought, performance, and a challenging one to watch. But Mary is so pitiably human that even her most maddening moments are tempered by compassion and empathy.
The entire film, in fact, is built on those two qualities, making Leigh a host as generous as Gerri and Tom. In this wise, open-hearted picture he's created the perfect haven from the cheap ironies and cruel indifference we all have to field both in life and, far too often, at the movies.
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий