Another Year is a film by Mike Leigh. It’s typical Mike Leigh in that it is set in the United Kingdom and it follows the travails of everyday life for British people, in case, as the name of the film might suggest the, a year in the life of one couple.

Said couple, the Hepples, are a typical British middle class couple. They have money, at least enough to live in a nice house with a garden, they eat well and drink a nice bottle of wine every night. As far as we can see, they also have a reasonable social circle that they go around with: their son is a regular visitor, and they have other friends they are in touch with.

These relationships are what makes the film, as they develop of the year. One of the friends, Mary, is the middle aged, single, delusion about her age and beauty, and is an extremely lonely woman Another friend is Ken, an equally lonely individual, overweight and drinking himself to death. We have the brother whose wife has just died, some implication that his behaviour may have contributed to her death, and whose life is depressing and boring. Was it always like this or it’s the whole left by the death of his wife?

So far, so depressing. Usually there’s a bit humour to lighten the mood in Mike Leigh films, and while Wikipedia claims this is a comedy drama, I’m scratching my head trying to work out what the comedy bits were. Nonetheless, despite the depressing tone, the excellent performances from the cast do keep you involved.

One thing that would definitely make this film worth watching for those who don’t know British culture well, would be an insight into the drinking culture of the British. I always thought we were addicted to tea, but I was wrong. Judging by Another Year we are permanently pissed. If you are a happily married couple, you drown a bottle of wine each evening. If you’re lonely, you drown your sorrows by drinking the bottle yourself. If you’re at a funeral, alcohol will help you through. If you have nothing to do on a train journey, get a few cans of beers. And if you’re thinking of driving home, just have a couple of giant glasses of wine first, don’t worry.

To be honest, I have met lots of people like this and it is wholly depressing. I’m not sure if the director intended this commentary on life, or it just appeared naturally as a part of British life, but wither way it did pull me through the film. I started my own personal bingo game related to the next reason for having a drink. Perhaps not the best reason to watch a film, but better than none.