Another Year

“Another Year”, as its title quite fittingly dictates, is the movie we chose to see as part of our New Year’s Eve welcome of 2011. The film, written and directed by Mike Leigh, stars Jim Broadbent, Ruth Sheen, Lesley Manville and Peter Wight. It relates the conflicting stories of middle class Britons, some of whom are able to enjoy and experience a pleasant life and marital bliss while at least two of their friends suffer life’s despair and loneliness. How these two different groups interact and share each other’s lives makes for a deep and involved theatrical experience with special note given to the role of “Mary” played by Ms. Manville. She is an exceptional actress who portrays her part so convincingly that some of her performance becomes uncomfortable to watch but is nevertheless real and convincing. Though slow moving at times, it is deserving of the 2 hours and 20 minutes required to view it and earns a 3 star rating.