Review of Another Year (2010) by Francesca M — 20 Jan 2011

'Another Year' is a quiet, yet delightful film about a fairly ordinary British couple in their sixties who have to deal with the woes, trials and tribulations of others, but do so with a smile on their faces, exuding an aura of comfortable love and companionship.

Mike Leigh's films tend to portray real lives, real people and real dialogue in a way that takes you far away from the Hollywood rule book. You feel as if you have always known the characters and you can totally believe in the microcosms they inhabit.

The acting is superlative. Jim Broadbent is one of those great actors who you can watch in anything, but in this film you feel as if the role of Tom was made for him, or by him (I'm not sure which!) The same must be said for Ruth Sheen who plays his wife Gerri with subtlety and dimension. Lesley Manville as Mary is terrific, making you feel sympathetic towards a character who is both pathetic and annoying.

I watched the film with a smile on my face, even though the underlying issues were depressing or sad. The overall message seemed to be that it's possible to get through another year of life, despite its problems, if you have the ability to love, and with the solid companionship of a life-partner.