Another Year (2010)

Another Year is a 2010 British drama film written and directed by Mike Leigh, starring Lesley Manville, Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen. It premiered at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival in competition for the Palme d'Or. It played at the 54th London Film Festival before its general British release date on 5 November 2010. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for best original screenplay.

Tom (Jim Broadbent) and Gerri Hepple (Ruth Sheen) are a married couple who have a comfortable loving relationship in their autumn years. The film observes them over the course of the four seasons of an average year, surrounded by family, friends and colleagues. They are both professionals (Tom is a geologist and Gerri is a counsellor) and enjoy growing vegetables in their allotment. Gerri works at a doctor's surgery where her colleague Mary (Lesley Manville) is a receptionist. They have been friends for many years, and Mary is a frequent visitor to the Hepple's house. Middle-aged, slim and attractive, Mary is single and has a needy personality and a tendency to drink too much. Tom and Gerri host a barbecue for friends and family, including Mary, their old friend Ken (a heavy drinker and smoker, who is visiting for the weekend), and single son Joe. Mary drives her newly bought car to the party, but gets lost and arrives late feeling anxious. She enjoys flirting with Joe, who she has known for a long time, and he is friendly and polite to her. Afterwards, Mary drives Joe and Ken to King's Cross train station. Ken makes a clumsy romantic approach but Mary angrily rejects him. Months later, Mary is at Tom and Gerri's home again. Joe arrives with a new girlfriend, Katie, a friendly occupational therapist. Mary appears jealous and is scathing about Katie, which disappoints Tom and Gerri. Time moves on to winter and Tom, Gerri and Joe arrive at the home of Tom's brother, Ronnie, for the funeral of his wife. Near the end of the funeral, Ronnie's estranged son arrives, angrily questioning why the funeral has not been delayed for him. The group tries to pacify him but the deep conflict between father and son is evident and, back at Ronnie's house, he becomes argumentative again and walks out. Tom and Gerri invite Ronnie back to London to stay with them and Ronnie agrees. While Tom and Gerri are at their allotment Mary arrives at the Hepple's home to find the uncommunicative Ronnie in the house alone. She persuades him to let her in. The two have a cup of tea then smoke together in the garden before Mary falls asleep on the couch. When Tom and Gerri return it's clear they are not pleased to see Mary and that at some point a serious breach in their relationship has occurred. Gerri explains that she feels let down by Mary's behaviour, and that she has to put her family first. Mary apologies again and cries. Gerri gradually extends a degree of friendship to Mary and the two women set the table together. Joe and Katie arrive for dinner and are warmly welcomed by Tom and Gerri. At the table, the Hepples enjoy dinner as a family; with Mary appearing lost and uncertain as an outsider .