Another year another film from Mike Leigh. This one chronicles a very happy, centered couple (Tom and Gerri-Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen) over the course of a year as they work, garden together (B loved that),. and interact with family and friends who aren’t anywhere near as together or happy In particular, it follows Mary (with excellent work by Lesley Manville), a less successful, lonely woman who desperately craves Gerri’s love, affection and support in her pursuit of T and G’s son who is, of course, seeking a younger and more apt connection. He is finally growing into his own happiness. Painful but well done. I love Leigh’s use of real looking, talented character actors. Sheen and Manville are part of his regular stable. Dark comedy set in reality Why do they tolerate these folks?. Do they need to feel superior to them? To be helpers?. Or are they just really nice people who are too kind to kick the ‘losers’ out of their lives. And why do I relate so very much to the losers?. See this film