Home Sweet Home (16 Mar. 1982)

Three postal workers and their dysfunctional families interact over cups of tea and Sunday dinner.

Director:

Mike Leigh

Writer:

Mike Leigh (devised by)

Stars:

Eric Richard, Lorraine Brunning, Kay Stonham

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Eric Richard	...	Stan
Lorraine Brunning	...	Tina
Kay Stonham	...	Hazel
Timothy Spall	...	Gordon
Su Elliot	...	June (as Su Elliott)
Tim Barker	...	Harold
Frances Barber	...	Melody
Lloyd Peters	...	Dave
Sheila Kelley	...	Janice
Heidi Laratta	...	Kelly
Paul Jesson	...	Man in Dressing Gown

Storyline

Three postal workers and their dysfunctional families interact over cups of tea and Sunday dinner. Stan, Gordon, and Harold sort mail. While the clueless Harold's at work, Stan nips round for loveless sex with Harold's near-sighted, romance-starved wife, June. When Gordon's out, Hazel invites Stan in for tea, randy talk, and to show off her newly-thin figure. Motor-mouthed, intrusive social workers want Stan to spend time with his teenage daughter, Tina, "fostered out" since Stan's divorce. One Sunday, Hazel invites Stan and Tina to dinner; Gordon and Hazel argue; it's on to Stan's, where June shows up wanting a private talk. She's miserable. Tina mutely looks on.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 March 1982 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Arena: Mike Leigh Making Plays (1982)

User Reviews

Happy Families!

I have been trying hard to buy this film and others by Mike Leigh for a long time and at last managed to track them down in the USA.

This was an amusing film about 3 post office workers and their families. Stan who's wife had gone and left him was busy having affairs or chatting up his mate's wives and other ladies. His poor daughter must have found it hard when she came to visit from a children's home and it all came to a head in front of her. She may think twice about visiting her Dad again let alone living with him! I had to feel sorry for Harold, whatever he tried to do for for his wife (June) he couldn't please her and his attempts at humor failed to amuse his work mates. I think Hazel was simply being friendly when she asked Stan in for a chat and had no intention of having an affair with him. She is a friendly and outgoing. After all it was her husbands idea!

I found this an easy going and enjoyable film. It is light hearted even the social worker scenes. The social worker at the end is either eccentric or maybe highly intelligent or maybe a bit of both.