Several stories set to the four seasons is where Mike Leigh went with Another Year — a hard follow up act to follow in the eyes of those who can’t think before the cheery go lucky portrait with Sally Hawkins. I kept thinking of Bergman’s later films — and was comforted like what a quilt would on a winter’s day by the on-screen pairing of thesps Ruth Sheen and Jim Broadbent. They portray just a healthy, super supportive couple growing old together with a mutual respect for one another and those around them. Love the supporting work from Leigh veteran actress Lesley Manville who doesn’t go off the deep end but might be as brittle as former Leigh characters as in Secrets & Lies‘ Brenda Blethyn or Career Girls‘ nutty perf from Katrin Cartlidge. Side note: I was sort of surprised that Imelda Staunton doesn’t occupy much place in the slice of life portrait. Here is a quick snip-it from the press conference I didn’t get to see because of my tardiness – too bad since he ripped into a couple of journalists who didn’t get the simple non-message that Leigh was conveying.
