Belonging (2004) (TV)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Christopher Menaul

Writers:

Stevie Davies (novel)
Alan Plater (screenplay)

Release Date:

12 September 2004 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Middle-aged Jess Copplestone is left to look after the elderly relatives of her husband Jacob and to make a new life for herself, after he leaves her for a younger woman. |

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Brenda Blethyn	...	Jess Copplestone
Kevin Whately	...	Jacob Copplestone
Rosemary Harris	...	May Copplestone
Anna Massey	...	Brenda
Peter Sallis	...	Nathan
Jill Baker	...	Cathy
Fiona O'Shaughnessy	...	Stephanie
Matthew Marsh	...	Peter Fox
Maisy Taylor	...	Nella
Tom Bennett	...	PC Cowley
Joe Van Moyland	...	Luke
Roisin Rae	...	Waitress
Eliza Hunt	...	Jane Ventress
Muriel Pavlow	...	Dorothy
Helen Masters	...	Hazel

Also Known As:

The Web of Belonging (UK) (working title)

Runtime:

96 min | UK:120 min (including commercials)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

The Producers Films

Quotes:

[to a policeman who has arrived unannounced]
May: If you want my advice... If you're looking for criminals, go down to the Town Hall and arrest the Council. Lock them up and throw the key in the river. Or better still, keep the key and throw the *Council* in the river.

Another fine performance

Yet another excellent performance from Brenda Blethyn, who seems to excel in playing this type of character. But the limelight in this case has to be shared with Rosemary Harris, playing the mother-in-law, who has some excellent lines and delivers them well. Both turn in top quality performances. Many good, well known British actors in the supporting cast also add to the overall effect, including Kevin Whately, who devotees of the British TV show Inspector Morse will know as Sgt. Lewis. Here he is much and does a good job of playing the errant husband. It was an interest contrast to watching him just the previous evening in the first ever Morse, made 17 years earlier.

The plot is simple: what happens when a middle-aged husband leaves his wife for a younger woman. But the result is not exactly predictable, or perhaps to be more exact where Brenda Blethyn movies are concerned, it is predictable that things will not turn out exactly as they would in a more stereotypical tale. No spoilers given. If you enjoyed other of her movies you are certain to enjoy this one.