Film Four International/British Screen/Portman. Produced by Simon Channing Williams and Victor Glynn, written & directed by Mike Leigh, photography by Roger Pratt, edited by Jon Gregory, designed by Diana Charnley, costumes by Lindy Hemming, music by Andrew Dickson, sound by Billy McCarthy. With Phil Davis (Cyril), Ruth Sheen (Shirley), Edna Doré (Mrs Bender), Heather Tobias (Valerie), Philip Jackson (Martin), Lesley Manville (Laetitia), David Bamber (Rupert), Jason Watkins (Wayne), Judith Scott (Suzi), Cheryl Prime (Martin’s Girlfriend) Diane-Louise Jordan (Chemist Shop Assistant), Linda Beckett (Receptionist). 110 mins.

Youth, old age, parents, children, love, sex, families, commitments, integrity, Socialism, Karl Marx, Margaret Thatcher.

European Film Awards 1989

Won: Best Actress – Ruth Sheen

Won: Best Supporting Performance – Edna Doré

Won: Best Composer – Andrew Dickson

Nominated: Best Film – Victor Glynn (producer) / Simon Channing Williams (producer)

Evening Standard British Film Awards 1990

Won: Peter Sellers Award for Comedy

Independent Spirit Awards 1990

Nominated: Best Foreign Film

Venice Film Festival 1988

Won: FIPRESCI Prize