Good direction and fine performances keep the pace of this lengthy film moving and prevent the material's descent into maudlin sentimentality.
Bleak Moments
✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ Read critic reviews
United Kingdom · 1971
1h 51m
Director Mike Leigh
Starring Anne Raitt, Sarah Stephenson, Eric Allan, Joolia Cappleman
Genre Comedy, Drama
Add to Watchlist
Please login to add films to your watchlist.
Moments from the uncompromisingly bleak existence of a secretary, her retarded sister, aloof and uneasy teacher boyfriend, bizzare neighbour and irritating workmate.
We hate to say it, but we can't find anywhere to view this film.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
The New York Times by Janet Maslin
The best that can be said for Bleak Moments is that it earns its name. The film, while it has been handsomely photographed, seems entirely given over to pained, wordless interludes. [23 Sep 1980, p.C6]
The ability to find performers who never seem for a moment to be performing is also here, giving Bleak Moments, like all of Leigh's films, an almost voyeuristic feel.
Downright depressing.
Chicago Sun-Times by Roger Ebert
It is a first film by a young British director who exhibits in every scene a complete mastery of the kind of characterization he is attempting. This film is a masterpiece, plain and simple, and that is a statement I doubt I will ever have cause to revise.
Users who liked this film also liked
La Dolce Vita
(La dolce vita)
A paprazzo's search for love and happiness through booze and sex.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Italy, France • 1960
- Director Federico Fellini
- Cast Marcello Mastroianni, Anita Ekberg, Anouk Aimée, Yvonne Furneaux, Magali Noël, Alain Cuny
- Genre Comedy, Drama
- Available on Criterion Channel, Plex, Plex Channel
The Thing
A team of American scientists in Antarctica attempt to fight off a deadly shapeshifting alien.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- United States, Canada • 1982
- Director John Carpenter
- Cast Kurt Russell, Keith David, Wilford Brimley, T.K. Carter, David Clennon, Richard Dysart
- Genre Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, AMC, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand
Death in Venice
(Morte a Venezia)
The celebrated story of a man obsessed by ideal beauty.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Italy, France • 1971
- Director Luchino Visconti
- Cast Dirk Bogarde, Björn Andrésen, Silvana Mangano, Marisa Berenson, Romolo Valli, Nora Ricci
- Genre Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube
Grave of the Fireflies
(火垂るの墓)
Can these two siblings beat the odds?
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Japan • 1988
- Director Isao Takahata
- Cast Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Yoshiko Shinohara, Akemi Yamaguchi
- Genre Animation, Drama, War
- Available on Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads
There Was a Father
(父ありき)
Widower and father Shuhei Horikawa grapples with raising his son amidst financial strife and personal failings of honor.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Japan • 1942
- Director Yasujirō Ozu
- Cast Chishū Ryū, Shûji Sano, Haruhiko Tsuda, Shin Saburi, Takeshi Sakamoto, Mitsuko Mito
- Genre Drama
- Available on Criterion Channel, Plex, Plex Channel
Joker
A failed stand-up comedian is driven insane, turning to a life of crime in chaos in Gotham City.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Canada, United States • 2019
- Director Todd Phillips
- Cast Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Shea Whigham
- Genre Crime, Thriller, Drama
- Available on Max Amazon Channel, Max, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand
Long Day's Journey Into Night
(地球最后的夜晚)
A man returns to his hometown, where he is haunted by memories of his long-lost love.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2018
- Director Bi Gan
- Cast Huang Jue, Tang Wei, Sylvia Chang, Lee Hong Chi, Chen Yongzhong
- Genre Drama, Mystery
- Available on OVID, Kino Film Collection, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Kanopy
Daughter of Mine
(Figlia mia)
A daughter torn between two mothers.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Italy, Germany, Switzerland • 2018
- Director Laura Bispuri
- Cast Valeria Golino, Alba Rohrwacher, Sara Casu, Udo Kier, Michele Carboni
- Genre Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Kanopy
Parasite
(기생충)
A poor family lies and schemes their way into the employ of a wealthy household — successfully, but with great consequences.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Korea • 2019
- Director Bong Joon-ho
- Cast Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-shik, Park So-dam, Chang Hyae-jin
- Genre Comedy, Drama, Thriller
- Available on Max, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand
Hammamet
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Italy • 2020
- Director Gianni Amelio
- Cast Pierfrancesco Favino, Claudia Gerini, Omero Antonutti, Renato Carpentieri, Livia Rossi, Luca Filippi
- Genre Drama, History
- Available on Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube
La Chimera
Arthur, an archaeologist with a supernatural gift for locating Etruscan relics, reunites with a ragtag group of tomb raiders.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Italy, France, Switzerland • 2023
- Director Alice Rohrwacher
- Cast Isabella Rossellini, Josh O'Connor, Carol Duarte, Alba Rohrwacher, Vincenzo Nemolato, Chiara Pazzaglia
- Genre Drama
- Available on Hulu, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand