High Hopes

Mike Leigh, UK, 1988, 110 minutes

Whilst running true to Leigh's usual form of tearing us apart for our pretensions and incompetence in relationships, High Hopes gives us a sign that Mike Leigh may think there is a chance for us. Not only is this his funniest, it is also his most immediately touching film. Leigh puts Marxists, yuppies and suburbanites in a situation where they have to 'deal with a dour pensioner and observes the (mostly horrifying) results with a wry sense of humour.

As is often the case with Leigh but otherwise unusual in modern cinema, the female characters are stronger. Perhaps this is a result of the full involvement of all the cast in the creative process. All the characters are multi-dimensional and we are shown interesting and shameful insights into how individuals inter-react with other people. As with all of Leigh's him the acting is a joy. Everyone is simply perfect.

Review by Danny Carr
Taken from EUFS Programme 1992-93