Review of Another Year (2010) by G Z — 17 Aug 2014

A lot of reviews I've read of this on here miss the point I think though liking the film no less. Perhaps this is one of Leigh's strengths, the film can be just an enjoyable character driven story or it can be a very complex and astute study of human nature.

This film epitomizes this particular genius of Leigh's - presenting us with an oh so subtle depiction of the nastiness of people all in a light, polite, middle class English environment. It's not out there, you have to look for it and when you have noticed the subtleties they will go on haunting you long after the film has finished, returning to you in odd moments.

He doesn't domonize a single character and yet this film's sympathies turn so seamlessly that it is not until the very final scene you feel you have misjudged and you see little moments in a different light - the cold, smugness of the couple and the very incongruent therapist.

The couple bring lonely people into their life only to shut them out again in an end scene that is a perfect and heart breaking moment of lonliness expressed only on the faces of Mary and Ronnie while the family talk blithely on around them.

Lesley Manville is extraordinary, painfully captivating and the scene with her and David Bradley is perfect and profound.