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I read that he writer of this film was hesitant to adapt his novel into a screenplay, as he felt that it was not cinematic. It did not remind him of other films he had seen. But the producer encouraged him, saying that that was exactly what was so great about it. How right he was! If ever a filmmaker's instinct paid off in spades, this is it. Withnail & I is incredibly original, incredibly funny and sad and totally believable. The narration, the story and the performances are all absolutely brilliant. Making such an "uncinematic" film may have been a risky move, but it has withstood the test of time. It is a true masterpiece of British cinema, and a wonderful piece of history.

This incredible movie gives us an extremely realistic and unmatched look at the lives of some very interesting and rare film characters, dealing with a very human emotion at a specific time and place that we've never seen before and will never see again. We've never met these people, and most of us have probably never gone through exactly what they are going through, but it is nonetheless a deeply human experience, and the film does an outstanding job of making us care and sympathize. Excellent writing, acting, directing and cinematography. This is an underrated masterpiece of 90s European cinema.

Maurice Pialat is the French John Cassavetes, and this film is his masterpiece. It feels totally real from the very beginning all the way up until the end. Don't be fooled by the title; it pulls no punches, showing the harsh realities of adolescent life and what it meant to grow up in a certain time and place. We feel what the characters feel, and we see the unadulterated truth in what they are going through. It is my understanding that certain scenes were unscripted, and that really shows. This is a very powerful story, told in an extremely effective way that would not have worked if it had been made at a different time or place, or by a different director.