Review of Bleak Moments (1971) by Walter M — 15 May 2011

"Bleak Moments" is a primordial instance of Mike Leigh miserablism, that while lacking technically in the sound department, still manages to adequately depict a group of people trapped by circumstances and obligation(Speaking of repression, from one of the movie's stills, I orignally thought it might be set in Victorian England due to the way one of the characters is dressed), set mostly over a single evening with just the barest hint of a light at the end of a tunnel that might not be an oncoming train for once.

Sylvia(Anne Raitt) works in an accountant's office as a secretary while she also takes care of her mentally challenged sister Hilda(Sarah Stephenson). While this gives her little time for a social life, she manages to meet Peter(Eric Allan), a teacher who chafes at the intellectual limitations of his job, on the way home. They go out to eat for the evening, leaving Hilda in the care of Pat(Joolia Cappleman), Sylvia's friend and coworker, who also has to care for her invalid mother(Liz Smith). Enter Norman(Mike Bradwell), a musician, who rents Sylvia's garage to live in.