Main Cast: Stephen Rea, Sinéad Cusack, Philip Jackson, Clare Higgins, Phil Daniels
Release Year: 1992
Country: UK
Run Time: 103 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
An Irish married couple (Stephen Rea and Sinead Cusack) tend to define their lives according to the opinions of others. When little crises regarding his job and her parenting skills begin to develop, Rea and Cusack are devastated. When their friends and business acquaintances begin turning sour, they are debilitated. And when the planned renovation of their bathroom goes awry, they are utterly destroyed. The improvisational banter between the two stars was achieved by director Les Blair after extensive, laissez-faire rehearsals. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Stephen Rea is the only well-known name in this "slice-of-life" film project with its roots in improvisation. Rea and Sinead Cusack are an Irish couple living in north England. He works for the local planning commission and she's a stay-at-home mother. British director Les Blair suggested a bare-bones plot about a home remodeling project that leads to an emotional confrontation, and the actors came up with their own dialogue over a long rehearsal period. The success of the film depends on the viewer's tolerance for many little moments with few or no significant plot turns. The project was released the same year that Rea received international acclaim, and an Oscar nomination, for his role in Neil Jordan's The Crying Game. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
Saira Todd - Sophie Bevan; Mary Jo Randle - Winifred Turner; Kenneth Hadley - Priest; Amanda Boxer - Linda Marks
Credit
Janty Yates - Costume Designer, Tommy Gormley - First Assistant Director, Peter Mcaleese - First Assistant Director, Ben Johnson - First Assistant Director, Les Blair - Director, Martin Walsh - Editor, Sally Hibbin - Executive Producer, John Altman - Composer (Music Score), Louise Fisher - Makeup, Witold Stok - Cinematographer, Sarah Curtis - Producer
