Stars: Dervla Kirwan, Christopher Eccleston, Yvan Attal, Fionnula Flanagan, George Kennedy, Alun Armstrong, Julie Graham

Director: Michael Winterbottom

Summary: This British drama, directed by Michael Winterbottom, focuses on a couple who desperately want to have a baby. Vincent (Christopher Eccleston) and Rosie (Dervla Kirwan) have thrown away the condoms, redecorated the spare room, but seem unable to produce a child even after adopting a healthier lifestyle; loose clothing, green vegetables and programmed sex. The strain on their relationship is further increased by the arrival of a penfriend.

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With or Without Youworks as an above-average television drama; but that's about the height of its ambition. It's strange that Michael Winterbottom, director of the hard-edged, bitter Welcome to Sarajevo(1997) and the grandiose snowy western The Claim(2000) should have bothered with anything as routine and undemanding. Perhaps its greatest distinction is that it's set in present-day Belfast without so much as a mention of the Troubles.

The plot is a bog-standard romantic triangle. Rosie and Vincent, who have been married five years or so, want a baby, but nothing's happening. It doesn't help that Rosie's older sister has sprogs burgeoning like mushrooms wherever you look. Then up pops a figure from Rosie's past--Benoît, her pen-pal from before she met Vincent. And being French, he's naturally charming, witty, romantic and everything poor old Vincent isn't. Think you can guess what's coming? Well, most likely you can--right down to the all-too-pat happy ending.

Still, the actors (Christopher Ecclestone, Dervla Kirwan and Yvan Attal are the leads) are accomplished and watchable, the dialogue stays the right side of banal and it's refreshing to see Belfast shown as a civilised, cultured place to live. With or Without Youpasses an hour and a half pleasantly enough and may even raise the odd chuckle, but it covers well-trodden territory without much new to say.

On the DVD:aptly routine stuff--the theatrical trailer, a bland "making of" featurette and some interviews with the three principal players. Widescreen (16:9 anamorphic) and Dolby Surround Sound give the material the best possible showcase. --Philip Kemp

Aspect Ratio:	16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Interviews, Theatrical Trailer, Featurette
Subtitles:	English
Year:	1999
Release Date:	December 3, 2001
Runtime:	86 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	C C D 8693
Label:	Film Four Distributors
Keywords:	With, You, Comedy, General, Without, Wide, Screen, Romantic, Drama
Genre:	Drama