Bleak Moments

Anne Raitt - Sylvia
Sarah Stephenson - Hilda
Eric Allan - Peter
Joolia Cappleman - Pat
Mike Bradwell - Norman

This promising debut feature film by one of Britain's most acclaimed theatrical creators already contains the seeds of such later successes as Abigail's Party and High Hopes. Like his subsequent features, this was developed out of extended improvisation and research with his actors. Mike Leigh's brilliantly conceived gallery of suburban types is an anthology of defective identities, embracing moments from the uncompromisingly bleak south London suburb existence of a shy accountant's clerk, Sylvia (Anne Raitt), who unselfishly cares for her mentally disabled sister, Hilda (Sarah Stephenson), a secretary.

Feeling trapped in the quiet desperation and frequent absurdity of an unsatisfying life, the alcohol-tippling spinster desperately seeks contact with other people; alternating her attentions between a tongue-tied schoolteacher, Peter (Eric Allan), and a would-be folk-singer, Norman (Mike Bradwell) who rents the garage. Peter asks Sylvia out to dinner, and she accepts. Their dinner date turns out to be a painful and humiliating experience before the night is over. Hilda meanwhile, is left in the care of Sylvia's stressed workmate, Pat (Joolie Cappleman), and her mother (Liz Smith). Beneath the acid wit there is also sympathy for the carer, and a disturbing vision of Britain's repressive social and political society.