High Hopes (1988)

Director:

Mike Leigh

Writer:

Mike Leigh (writer)

Release Date:

24 February 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

Slice-of-life look at a sweet working-class couple in London, Shirley and Cyril, his mother, who's aging quickly and becoming forgetful...

Plot Keywords:

Family | Marxism | Independent Film

Awards:

5 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Philip Davis	...	Cyril Bender
Ruth Sheen	...	Shirley
Edna Doré	...	Mrs. Bender
Philip Jackson	...	Martin Burke
Heather Tobias	...	Valerie Burke
Lesley Manville	...	Laetitia Boothe-Brain
David Bamber	...	Rupert Boothe-Braine
Jason Watkins	...	Wayne
Judith Scott	...	Suzi
Cheryl Prime	...	Martin's Girl Friend
Diane-Louise Jordan	...	Chemist Shop Assistant
Linda Beckett	...	Receptionist

Runtime:

112 min | USA:110 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | UK:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Broadgate, London, England, UK

Company:

British Screen Productions

Movie Connections:

References E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Really lovely movie

Of course the marketing people hype every movie like it's a cross between "Titanic" and "Wedding Crashers" but there is such a thing as a small lovely film and "High Hopes" is it. It's a comedy but nobody passes gas or accidentally drinks urine, so it's a cut above any comedy produced in the U.S. during the last thirty years. It's just about people, working class people in London trying to get by. But its got a good heart and the smiles it provides will stick with you longer than the brain-dead belly laughs strained over in Hollywood comedies. It just feels like real life. The actors don't seem to be acting. And you end up pretty hopeful regarding the human condition.