Belonging

Well acted and well told story of love and lost love among the elderly in modern England.

It turned up on TV (True Movies) and, having nothing better to do, I slumped in front of it, expecting something trite. But it's an excellent film (about the usual things: power, money, sex, human frailty, etc.) and very watchable. Can't imagine why it wasn't released in the cinema, when so many vastly inferior films are. Possibly because of the awful title? Or the slightly embarrassing final shrug in the direction of 'the patriarchy'? No - it must have been something much more complicated. Anyway, other earnest seekers after wisdom about the human condition can apparently download it for free. Whoopee! Heartily recommend they do.

Yet another excellent performance from Brenda Blethyn, who seems to excel in playing this type of character. But the limelight in this case has to be shared with Rosemary Harris, playing the mother-in-law, who has some excellent lines and delivers them well. Both turn in top quality performances. Many good, well known British actors in the supporting cast also add to the overall effect, including Kevin Whately, who devotees of the British TV show Inspector Morse will know as Sgt. Lewis. Here he is much and does a good job of playing the errant husband. It was an interest contrast to watching him just the previous evening in the first ever Morse, made 17 years earlier.

The plot is simple: what happens when a middle-aged husband leaves his wife for a younger woman. But the result is not exactly predictable, or perhaps to be more exact where Brenda Blethyn movies are concerned, it is predictable that things will not turn out exactly as they would in a more stereotypical tale. No spoilers given. If you enjoyed other of her movies you are certain to enjoy this one.

Jess Copplestone is left heartbroken when her husband Jacob walks out on their marriage, worse still he leaves her with his relatives, his awkward mother May, Aunt and Uncle. Jess has to understand what has happened to her and has to contemplate how her life can move forward.

In the early and mid 2000's ITV were producing some wonderful one off dramas, Belonging is such a drama. Not quite Vera meets Lewis, but very much a coming together of two wonderful actors.

It's bittersweet, funny, heartwarming and liable to get your blood pressure through the roof. Jacob is a complete and utter monster, he's so loathsome, expecting his downtrodden, subservient wife for care for his family, the story was always going to be about how Jess could turn things around.

Superb performance from Blethyn, as ways, Kevin Whately plays the part of the love rat husband so well, but the mature members, Peter Sallis, Anna Massey and Rosemary Harris are fabulous.

The dvd is very pricey now, it must be quite rare, this needs to be repeated, it's a cut above so many modern day dramas.

9/10.

An old story of course but this one has some interesting wrinkles: the wife is left caring for the husband's elderly mother and aunt. How does that happen? Well, because the wife is the nicest of nice people - which is what makes this film frustrating at times - that she never really tells him he can take his whole family with him.

Brenda Blethyn is terrific in this role, sympathetic, charitable, caregiving, loving. As someone says, she is a true saint. Rosemary Harris is stellar in her role as the cantankerous matriarch. Not a happy ending, not a sad ending, just a real one.

Highly recommended for Brenda Blethyn fans!