“Another Year”

Category: Drama

Review by Barbara Neilson MSW, Res. Dip. S.W., RSW

RATING (Out of Five SocialWorkersSpeak.org Megaphones):

Plot: If you are a fan of British filmmaker Mike Leigh, you will love this movie and consider it one of his best. If you have never heard of Mike Leigh, and this is your first, you will be tempted to go down to the video store to catch up on his body of work (“Secrets and Lies,” “Topsy -Turvy,” “Happy Go Lucky”etc.)

Leigh is a master in portraying everyday life in a simple yet powerful way. “Another Year” is no exception.

It is the story of Tom (Jim Broadbent) and Gerri, (Ruth Sheen),a couple who are in their late middle years, happy with themselves and life. It follows them over the course of the four seasons of a year, and is interspersed with their not-so-happy friends and family. The film opens in the medical clinic office of social worker Gerri, as she meets with a client who clearly is desperately depressed and unhappy. The struggle of that depression is so clearly etched on the client’s small facial movements and the stretched moments of silence between Gerri and the client.

Jim Broadbent, Ruth Sheen and Oliver Maltman star in "Another Year."

The rest of the movie takes place as friends and family visit and intermingle over drinks (and more drinks) and food. Gerri’s coworker and friend Mary (Lesley Manville) is in many of the scenes and we watch her disintegration over the seasons in her desperate search to find the happiness that Tom and Gerri have.

There are appearances of Tom’s old friend Ken (Peter Wight), who the viewer is left wondering if he will have a heart attack before our eyes due to his unhealthy state. There is the bereaved, bordering-on-catatonic brother Ronnie (David Bradley) and his  son Carl (Martin Savage), the family black sheep. Tom and Gerri’s son Joe (Oliver Maltman), an immigration consultant, is a bit of an enigma at the start of the film, but develops into a happier fellow as he comes home with  serious girlfriend Katie (Karina Fernandez), adding to the happiness of his parents and the dismay of Mary, who had convinced herself  she “had a connection” with Joe.

Peter Wight and Lesley Manville.

Why social workers and the public should watch this film:

 This is a subtle, engaging movie that gives a glimpse into the lives of everyday people. It is funny, sad, and again, so true to life. Mike Leigh makes his films with a group of actors who take different parts in his various films. They work together for months and do not follow a script, but improvise. This adds to the realness of the movie. The fact that “Another Year” has been nominated for an Oscar in the category of “Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen” speaks to the success of this technique. The actors look like people we may know or have met and the viewer has time to make formulations based on the characters we see. The film portrays life without making judgments or pronouncements and leaves this up to the viewer.

The one scene in the office with Gerri is an accurate portrayal of social work, as is the development of her personality and how that would work to her professional advantage. It is a film that leaves you thinking, and wondering what happens next.

Barbara Neilson is  in her 22nd year of providing clinical social work services to the Division of Urology at Sick Kids in Toronto, Ontario. She is a member of  the Ontario Association of Social Workers. At the present time her practice is limited to patients and families with disorders of sex development, including Bladder Exstrophy, Cloacal Exstrophy and Epispadias. She participates in interprofessional practice, education and research relating to her areas of expertise. She has led on line support groups for Exstrophy patients and families including adults for the past 14 years. She is a passionate believer in family centered care and is a strong advocate for her patients and families.