Genre: social
drama
With: Anne Reid (May), Peter Vaughan (Toots), Steven Mackintosh (Bobby),
Cathryn Bradshaw (Paula), Anna Wilson-Jones (Helen, Bobby’s wife), Oliver Ford
Davies (Bruce) and Daniel Craig (Darren)
Director: Roger Michell
Release: 2004
Studio: Sony Pictures
Classics
Rating: 14A
MBiS score: 8.2/10
A Mother But Still
A Human Being
QuickView
Story-line: as soon as retirees Toots and May arrive in London to
visit their children, a health issue throws the whole family into a fix.
Pluses: a very contemporary
subject, natural acting by Anne Reid and cast (check out Daniel Craig before James
Bond!), Hanif Kureishi’s subtle screenplay, disciplined direction, Jeremy Sams’
jazzy score.
Minuses:
none.
Comments: a genuinely
surprising and thought-provoking movie about old age, generational conflicts and
how damaging it is to pigeonhole people, especially those who are close to us. I
can only admire a film that tackles tough issues in such a brave and realistic
way.
MBiS
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