Does anyone else find this film appalling?
Compared to contemporary depictions of the working classes (see Ken Loach, Bleasdale, Clarke and of course other Leigh films) I found this film to be an utterly disgusting, patronising, contrived and most of all stereotypical portrait of the working class.
The characters are unlovable and void of any depth apart from the obligatory 'working class' foibles they present.
I cringe at the thought of Leigh and his colleagues during rehearsals, feeling proud of themselves for creating something 'really gritty and relevant'. Taking into consideration Leigh's middle class background to boot, the film appears nothing but utterly contrived. There is no depth here, and the story felt like herding cats. It's a dirge for the sheer sake of dirge - no social or political comment made, just sad people living dead end lives in a council estate.
I love Leigh's films and think he is probably the cream of British cinema but I found this film appalling. I am shocked to think that this comes from the same person who made 'Naked' and 'Secrets & Lies'.
I saw Leigh at a Q+A at the Cornerhouse in Manchester where he was promoting 'Another Year'. He spoke briefly about how he would be completely depressed if anyone viewed his characters as stereotypical. I'm sorry Mike, but in this film you're on the same level of characterisation as Little Britain.
Sorry for the rant, just wondered if anybody else shared this view?
http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=7917401/ - Vote Historyshare