Life is Sweet [1990]

 Life is Sweet, the commercial breakthrough in Mike Leigh’s feature filmmaking career, provided an enchanting embodiment of the facets that’ve come to distinctively define his penchant for intimate family dynamics, everyday lives of the working-class, understated political stance, observational style and seemingly improvisational approach – albeit, one steadfastly arrived at through extensive rehearsals. As the title so ironically implied, this delightful and infectious – but never mawkish – film captured fleeting moments of bittersweet joys amidst the despair, disillusionments, disenfranchisements, hardships and tribulations that Thatcher’s dismal, neoliberalist reign – which, incidentally, ended in the same year as this film’s making – represented for the British working-class population; it also alluded, in parallel, to food in its myriad forms, implications and manifestations. At the film’s broad-hearted core was a memorably-etched family comprising of middle-aged parents – the affable, kindly and perennially hopeful Andy (Jim Broadbent), who’s the chef at an industrial kitchen; and the irrepressible, effervescent and loving Wendy (Alison Steadman), who does odd jobs while also managing the household –, and their chalk-and-cheese twin daughters – the composed, stolid and tomboyish Natalie (Claire Skinner), who works as a plumber, enjoys an easy life, and has an ambiguous sexuality; and the neurotic, self-loathing and deeply troubled Nicola (Jane Horrocks), who considers herself an anarchist feminist, is plagued by bulimia, and is in dire need of empathy. The film was filled with heart-warming moments – be it Andy’s silly hopes of turning around a ramshackle food caravan, and the endearing warmth between the couple, or the loving heart-to-hearts between Wendy and Nicola, and the sisters – which were elevated by terrific performances. The angle involving a pompous wannabe restauranteur’s (Timothy Spall) gastronomic train-wreck, however, felt out of place and avoidable.

Director: Mike Leigh

Genre: Comedy/Family Drama/Slice-of-Life

Language: English

Country: UK