Another Year (2010)

Director:

Mike Leigh

Writer:

Mike Leigh (written by)

Release Date:

5 November 2010 (Ireland)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

A look at four seasons in the lives of a happily married couple and their relationships with their family and friends.

Plot Keywords:

Friend | Four Seasons | Autumn | Unhappiness | Tears

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 10 wins & 30 nominations

Cast

Jim Broadbent	...	Tom
Ruth Sheen	...	Gerri
Lesley Manville	...	Mary
Oliver Maltman	...	Joe
Peter Wight	...	Ken
David Bradley	...	Ronnie
Martin Savage	...	Carl
Karina Fernandez	...	Katie
Michele Austin	...	Tanya
Philip Davis	...	Jack (as Phil Davis)
Imelda Staunton	...	Janet
Stuart McQuarrie	...	Tom's Colleague
Eileen Davies	...	Mourner
Mary Jo Randle	...	Mourner
Ben Roberts	...	Mourner
David Hobbs	...	Vicar
Badi Uzzaman	...	Mr. Gupta
Meneka Das	...	Mr. Gupta's Friend
Ralph Ineson	...	Drill Worker
Edna Doré	...	Allotment Lady
Gary Powell	...	Man in Bar
Lisa McDonald	...	Girl in Bar

Directed by
Mike Leigh

Writing credits
Mike Leigh		(written by)

Produced by
Danielle Brandon	....	line producer
Gail Egan	....	executive producer
Georgina Lowe	....	producer
Tessa Ross	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Gary Yershon

Cinematography by
Dick Pope

Film Editing by
Jon Gregory

Casting by
Nina Gold

Production Design by
Simon Beresford

Art Direction by
Andrew Rothschild

Set Decoration by
Sophia Chowdhury

Costume Design by
Jacqueline Durran

Makeup Department
Christine Blundell	....	hair designer
Christine Blundell	....	makeup designer
Chloe Meddings	....	hair stylist (as Chloë Meddings)
Chloe Meddings	....	makeup artist
Lesa Warrener	....	senior makeuo stylist

Production Management
Polly Duval	....	post-production supervisor
Tracey Josephs	....	head of production: Film4
Sarah McBryde	....	production manager
Fiona Morham	....	head of physical production: UK Film Council
Iain Smith	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Melanie Heseltine	....	key second assistant director
Toby Hosking	....	key second assistant director
Nicholas Kay	....	third assistant director
Josh Robertson	....	first assistant director
Steve Wentworth	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Paul Barker	....	standby rigger
Caroline Bateman	....	art department trainee: Skillset
Netty Chapman	....	standby art director
Garry Dawson	....	dressing props
Kevin Day	....	standby props
Noel Deegan	....	standby props
Andrew Forrest	....	standby props (as Andy Forrest)
Peter Hodge	....	standby carpenter
Rowanna Lacey	....	graphic artist
Sophia Millar	....	art department trainee: Ft2
Dorothy Sullivan	....	production buyer
Steve Wheeler	....	property master
Matt Wyles	....	dressing props
Loretta Lipworth	....	daily art department assistant (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jason Canovas	....	dialogue editor
Antoinette Fernandez	....	sound trainee: UKFC Diversity
Les Fiddess	....	foley artist
Tim Fraser	....	sound recordist
Loveday Harding	....	boom operator
Simon Hewitt	....	foley artist
Raphi Hill	....	sound trainee: UKFC Diversity (as Raphaella Hill)
Martin Oswin	....	foley mixer
Mark Paterson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steve Schwalbe	....	supervising foley editor
Nigel Stone	....	sound re-recording mixer
Nigel Stone	....	supervising sound editor
Andy Thompson	....	sound re-recording mixer
William Towers	....	boom operator (as Will Towers)
Mike Wood	....	sound effects editor
Ben Collinson	....	sound assistant (uncredited)
Robert Weatherall	....	mix technician (uncredited)
Philip Young	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
David Johns	....	snow effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Dolores McGinley	....	visual effects artist

Camera and Electrical Department
Wailoon Chung	....	generator operator
John Evans	....	clapper loader
Phoebe Fraser	....	camera trainee: UKFC Diversity
Eugene Grobler	....	electrician
Mark Hanlon	....	best boy
Andy Long	....	gaffer
Simon Mein	....	stills photographer
Megan Ogilvie	....	camera trainee: UKFC Diversity
Dick Pope	....	camera operator
Gordon Segrove	....	focus puller
Colin Strachan	....	grip
Danny McGee	....	practical electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Kharmel Cochrane	....	casting assistant
Robert Sterne	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lucy Donowho	....	costume standby
Edith Kähler	....	costume assistant
Holly Waddington	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Helle Absalonsen	....	senior digital intermediate producer
Ben Bradley	....	digital intermediate technical director
John Claude	....	colorist
Sinead Cronin	....	on-line editor (as Sinéad Cronin)
Jo Dixon	....	first assistant editor (as Jo-Anne Dixon)
Sam Karr	....	editing trainee: UKFC Diversity
Garry Maddison	....	data scanner
Mark Neale	....	additional assistant editor
Natalie Silver	....	data scanner
Thora Woodward	....	additional assistant editor

Music Department
Tom Bullen	....	assistant score engineer
Nick Cooper	....	musician: cello
Terry Davies	....	conductor
Andrew Glen	....	music editor
Isobel Griffiths	....	musicians contractor
John Parricelli	....	musician: guitar
Colin Rae	....	music preparation
George Robertson	....	musician: viola
Nick Taylor	....	score mix engineer
Nick Taylor	....	score recordist
David Theodore	....	musician: oboe
Helen Tunstall	....	musician: harp
Lucy Whalley	....	assistant musician contractor

Transportation Department
Danny Brown	....	facilities captain
Simon Burgess	....	driver: facilities
John Doran	....	unit driver
Lloyd Eaton	....	driver: facilities
Stuart Little	....	unit driver: minibus
Jim McGleish	....	unit driver
Paul Racher	....	driver: facilities
Dan Smith	....	driver: facilities
Barry Quibell	....	driver: transportation facilities (uncredited)

Other crew
Chris Allies	....	title designer
Chris Blyth	....	caterer
Philip Booth	....	production assistant (as Philip James Booth)
Kate Brown	....	floor runner
Sally Caplan	....	head of premiere fund: UK Film Council
Eleri Coulten	....	assistant location manager
Paul Creasy	....	caterer
Graham Easton	....	completion guarantor: Film Finances
Will Evans	....	head of business affairs: UK Film Council
Trisha Faulkner	....	unit nurse (as Patricia Faulkner)
Helen Grearson	....	production assistant
Paul Grindey	....	head of business affairs: Film4
Laura Hicks	....	solicitor: Reed Smith
Ruth Hodgson	....	completion guarantor: Film Finances
Vince Holden	....	head of production finance: UK Film Council (as Vincent Holden)
Bek Leigh	....	accountant: Thin Man Films
Clem Leneghan	....	health and safety
Nicholas Marple	....	development support
Charles May	....	location security
Jerry Melichar	....	director: delivery and post production: Focus Features International
Steve Morley	....	diversity scheme executive: UK Film Council
Clive Noakes	....	laboratory liaison: Deluxe Laboratories
Robert Norris	....	solicitor: Reed Smith
Kevin O'Shea	....	insurance agent: AON/Albert G. Ruben
Herta Paarte	....	executive vice president marketing and distribution: Focus Features International
Richard Phillips	....	solicitor: Reed Smith
Sophie Roberts	....	development support
Jonathan Rutter	....	publicist: Premier PR
James Shirras	....	completion guarantor: Film Finances
Sue Bruce Smith	....	head of commercial development: Film4 (as Sue Bruce-Smith)
Sarah Stiff	....	assistant accountant
Heather Storr	....	script supervisor
Alison Thompson	....	president sales and distribution: Focus Features International
Nikki Thornhill	....	insurance agent: AON/Albert G. Ruben
Jack Timbrell	....	production assistant
Will Tyler	....	production accountant
Danielle Wilson	....	caterer
Henry Woolley	....	location manager
Ian Pearce	....	set security (uncredited)
Barry Quibell	....	unit facilities (uncredited)
Barnaby Riggs	....	floor runner (uncredited)
Helen Turpin	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Matthew Whitney	....	location scout (uncredited)
Eva Yates	....	assistant: Tessa Ross (uncredited)

Thanks
Simon Channing Williams	....	dedicatee

Production Companies

• Thin Man Films
• Film4
• Focus Features International (FFI) (support)
• UK Film Council (support)
• Untitled 09

Distributors

• Diaphana Films (2010) (France) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2011) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Entertainment One Benelux (2010) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• FS Film Oy (2011) (Finland) (theatrical) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
• Icon Film Distribution (2011) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Momentum Pictures (2010) (UK) (theatrical)
• Mongrel Media (2011) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Monopole-Pathé (2010) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Prokino Filmverleih (2011) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2010) (USA) (theatrical)
• Starway Film Distribution (2010) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Twin Co. Ltd. (2011) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2012) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2012) (Argentina) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Entertainment One Benelux (2011) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Entertainment One Benelux (2011) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Film1 (2011) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Editore (2011) (Italy) (DVD)
• King Power Media Group (2010) (Thailand) (all media)
• Mars Entertainment Group (2010) (Turkey) (all media)
• Odeon (2010) (Greece) (all media)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Zon Lusomundo Audiovisuais (2011) (Portugal) (all media)

Special Effects

• Derek Langley Special Effects (special effects)
• Snow Business International (special effects)

Other Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance (as AON/Albert G. Ruben)
• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting equipment
• Access Bookings  accommodation
• Air-Edel Recording Studios  music recorded and mixed at
• Audiolink Radio Communications  communications equipment (as Audiolink)
• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies
• Cinesite  film recording
• Digital Media Services (DMS)  digital marketing asset management
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Fatts  post-production script services (as FATTS)
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Film4  development
• Film4  funding
• Focus Features  funding
• Fuji Film  originated on
• Fuji Photo Film  motion picture film supplied by
• Goldcrest Post Production London  cutting rooms and equipment (as Goldcrest Post Production)
• Goldcrest Post Production London  sound re-recording facility (as Goldcrest Post Production)
• Hot Goblin Events  catering
• Location Assist Limited  security (as Location Assist)
• Lofty's Lab  stills processing
• MK Travel  unit minibus driver
• Mad Dog Casting  supporting artists
• Media Services  stationery supplier
• Movitech Camera Rentals  camera and grip equipment (as Movietech Camera Rentals)
• On Set Location Services  location vehicles (as On-Set Location Services)
• Palmbrokers  greenery (uncredited)
• Pepper Post Production  digital intermediate (as Pepper Post)
• Premier PR  publicity
• Production Copier Company  production equipment and services
• Red Line Studios  foley recording facility
• Reed Smith  solicitors
• Set Square Staging  construction
• Special Treats  epk
• TLO Film Services  action vehicles
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some language

Runtime:

129 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #46348) | Ireland:12A | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Norway:A | Canada:14A (Alberta) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (British Columbia/Ontario) | Sweden:Btl | Germany:o.Al. (f) | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Australia:M | UK:12 (DVD) | South Korea:12 | Japan:G | Argentina:13 | Singapore:PG13 | Mexico:B

Filming Locations:

Battersea Power Station, Battersea, London, England, UK

Company:

Thin Man Films

Trivia:

The film is dedicated to Mike Leigh's late friend and long-term producing partner Simon Channing Williams.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When Tom explains that the "Ring of Kerry" is an "area", he refers to Tralee and Dingle. In fact these lie on the Dingle Peninsula, and are NOT on the Ring of Kerry.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Tanya:So how long's this been going on for?
Janet:I don't know.
Tanya:A few weeks?
Janet:A long time.
Tanya:A year?
Janet:I Suppose so.
Tanya:A whole year? You've taken your time to come and see me, haven't you?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Who's on Firth (2011)

Big theme movie

This is a big movie tackling big themes, and may, like Happy-Go-Lucky (Mike Leigh's previous film) prove extremely Marmitish. The latter comment may prove hard to understand if you're not British, and that's just like the film (Marmite is a British spread made from yeast extract with a love-it-or-hate-it umami/savoury/salty flavour). Another Year deals with a particularly British form of social breakdown and emotional constipation.

In Britain, from the 40s to the 70s there was widespread use of an exam system called the 11+. Up until the age of 11-12 students were schooled together, after that point, students considered to have more potential by the standards of the 11+ examinations were streamed separately in Grammar Schools, prepared for success, whilst those below the boundary line were sent to Secondary Modern Schools where the focus was much more on practical education (bricklaying, "home economics", woodwork, etc). The legacy of this system has been huge social resentment. There is a feeling in Another Year that the system is back, in the form of university education. With the UK attempting to educate 50% of the secondary school student population to university level, a socially engineered bifurcation to haves and have-nots is being created once again.

All of the characters in the film are from working class backgrounds and yet the fortunes that life has graced them with are distinctly uneven, they have gone in different directions, absent any idea of a shared experience that may have been the rock of previous generations of Britons. Graduates Tom and Gerri (pun intended) have fulfilling careers, heartfelt love for one another, high incomes, and have had the opportunity to travel widely. Tom's brother and Gerri's friend Mary are aging and alone, undereducated, lacking in the kind of accomplishments that are social currency, living with hurt, and in Mary's case, desperation. The message is not all one way, old friend of the family Ken is also a graduate and yet has not managed to find a place in life either.

Scenes in the movie almost exclusively concern Tom and Gerri's catering to this group of friends and family. They deal with the misfortunes of this circle with a mixture of humour, irony, good cooking and alcohol, but mostly conceal their compassion and are helpless onlookers.

The mating game is key here, the unwedded 40+s exist in a state of unsalved distress, futureless, scrapped. Even 30-year-old Joe, functional, graduate, well-employed and witty has struggled to find someone to be with. A notable absence in the movie is a sense of solidarity, community, public events, shared lives and shared values. There's an illiquidity in the relationships marketplace, a lack of feeling and connection, all leading to a general anomie and social constipation.

However painful the lives of Ken and Mary are, the film gives occasional glimpses of far more infernal lives, lower circles of hell where dissatisfaction has paralysed characters with rage or utter resignation. Anything more than a glimpse would have made the film unwatchable.

Gone are the days when WWII veterans would whimper their way through night-times of post-traumatic hallucination for forty years without mentioning it to a soul, however the British "stiff upper lip" still remains as a guiding principle in this movie. There is still very much the assumption that one should keep one's private hell to oneself, or else outsource emotion to a therapist.

What may be controversial in the film is the way you look at how Tom and Gerri treat Mary. A German lady in the audience voiced her opinion to Mike Leigh that the way they treated her was to look down on her, and that she felt this was inappropriate. Mike Leigh responded that the lady felt like this because she was a German and Germans did not understand irony. Maybe I suffer from the same problem because I for one felt that Mary was treated as little more than a baby, and with a certain hauteur, arms-length love. I think people who are lonely need to feel useful. Mary for example was never allowed to help with anything, though this does not excuse her, at times, appalling behaviour (depression makes people selfish, however I feel it necessary to point out as well that someone who is drowning in a river and calling for a life ring, is also being "selfish" in the same way, and I think metaphorically the position is very similar).

Dour joyless watching, maybe one for the Cabinet to watch, after the example of the film La Haine, which concentrated on French malaise and was screened in front of the French cabinet at the instigation of Prime Minister Alain Juppé.