Great casting as well as performances

Whenever I see either Shirley Henderson or Gina McKee or especially Molly Parker in a film, I expect a great ride. Rarely am I mistaken. What a sort of trifecta to have them all together here! I somehow find the three of them similar: they all approach their craft very seriously and are talented, they're all — I'll exaggerate — indie cult names, they're all (to my opinion) in the top 10 beautiful not-typically-attractive great actresses, and they're all non-American (England, Scotland, Canada). I don't know who was the casting director, but I wouldn't be surprised if that was yet another display of Winterbottom's masterful taste.

Every other actor in the movie did great as well. I just couldn't tell anyone was acting; I was completely immersed. Kudos to them all, and certainly to the one who directed them (even if there was a lot of improvisation).

no i am db