Review of Peter's Friends (1992) by Eric R — 31 Oct 2007

I first watched Peter's Friends back in 1993; I had bought the soundtrack, a great collection of eclectic oldies, prior to seeing the film then was fortunate to have the opportunity to finally see it after a few months. From then on, I was and am still a big fan of this film.

Films with ensemble casts fascinate me because it's like getting everything in one big package. Branagh, Thompson, Fry, Laurie, and Staunton convincingly play their parts as old college friends who, after 10 years, go on an impromptu countryside reunion. The script is witty and funny and is well-written. Not a bad package, actually.

I was fortunate to have seen this again quite recently on cable and I was surprised that it evoked so many feelings that I missed out on the first go. The film had always been, for me, a fine example of Brit comedy but after seeing it again fourteen years later, I seem to see it in a more personal degree: If one has gone through life and have met and lost a lot of friends, then one gets to appreciate his/her own impermanence and hopefully try to make every second of what's left count.