Stars: Anne Raitt, Sarah Stephenson, Eric Allen, Liz Smith

Director: Mike Leigh

Summary: A drama set in a South London suburb taking in the lives of a sherry drinker and her handicapped sister, and a shy school teacher.

Writer-director Mike Leigh's BLEAK MOMENTS provides a glimpse into the life of several seemingly insignificant London residents. Sylvia (Anne Raitt) is a secretary who spends her evenings drinking sherry and taking care of her mentally disabled sister, Hilda (Sarah Stephenson). Lonely for some male company, she begins to see Peter (Eric Allan), an uptight schoolteacher. That's when Norman (Mike Bradwell) appears. Norman is a guitar-playing hippie who has rented out Sylvia's garage for a place to make copies of a magazine. Hilda loves listening to Norman play his guitar, and eventually Sylvia invites him inside for coffee and a chat. One night Peter and Sylvia go out to eat at a Chinese restaurant, while Sylvia's co-worker Pat (Joolia Cappleman) cares for Hilda. Upon returning home and drinking more sherry, Sylvia makes a pass at Peter, who shyly declines her offer. When Norman decides to leave the garage for good, Sylvia and Hilda are left alone once again, to combat the boredom and mundanity of their lives. Leigh's early made-for-television drama captures daily existence in a way that most filmmakers do not. He allows situations to unfold on their own terms, without forcing them as a writer, creating an intimate, bittersweet drama.

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Aspect Ratio:	4:3 Full Frame
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Director's commentary, OBI sleeve
Year:	1971
Release Date:	April 7, 2008
Runtime:	106 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	S O D A 074
Keywords:	English, Bleak, General, Moments, Drama
Genre:	Drama