The Ploughman's Lunch (1983)

James Penfield has made a career out of journalism. Now bankrupt, he finds himself with a group of other writers in the middle of the dispute-ridden British homeland at the time of the Falklands War.

Director:

Richard Eyre

Writer:

Ian McEwan

Stars:

Jonathan Pryce, William Maxwell, Paul Jesson

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jonathan Pryce	...	James Penfield
William Maxwell	...	Journalist
Paul Jesson	...	Journalist
Andy Rashleigh	...	Journalist
Christopher Fulford	...	Young Journalist
David Lyon	...	Newsreader
David de Keyser	...	Gold
Polly Abbott	...	Gold's Assistant
Tim Curry	...	Jeremy Hancock
Charlie Dore	...	Susan Barrington
Peter Walmsley	...	Bob Tuckett
Robert Cartland	...	Editor (as Bob Cartland)
Nat Jackley	...	Mr. Penfield
Pearl Hackney	...	Mrs. Penfield
Simon Stokes	...	Edward

Storyline

James Penfield has made a career out of journalism. Now bankrupt, he finds himself with a group of other writers in the middle of the dispute-ridden British homeland at the time of the Falklands War.

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Plot Keywords:

falklands war | british renaissance | norfolk england | london england | speech | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 1983 (UK)

Also Known As:

A Verdade dos Factos

Filming Locations:

Oxford Circus Station, Oxford Circus, Oxford Street, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Goldcrest Films International, Greenpoint Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filming at the 1982 British Conservative Party Conference featured at the end of the picture was allegedly done undercover by the production without permission from or knowledge by the British Conservative Party.

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Connections

Referenced in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004)

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Soundtracks

Gale Warning
(uncredited)
Music by Ronald Hanmer
Bosworth Music Ltd

User Reviews

Flawed but fascinating

I am a huge fan of Richard Eyre's work on stage and think he did a masterful job running the National Theatre for all those years. However, both the movies he has directed that I have seen (this one and Iris) are flawed. I think his style of directing might not suit film. There are several passages of the film that neither progress argument, nor develop characters nor set atmosphere effectively.

I am also a big fan of Ian McEwan's writing. This story is full of interesting material. Some of it could come across better - especially the double crossing in the various love interests and the echo of the Suez crisis therein. This might come down to the screenplay or perhaps the directing again.

But stick with it.

The scene in the pub during which Frank Finlay explains to Jonathan Pryce the origins of the ploughman's lunch is superb. The ghastly hermetically sealed cheese chunks on their plates providing a visual to Finlay's words.

We live in a society where we constantly reinvent the past in our attempts to shape the future as we want it. This is a key lesson in the film on all its many levels - the several love interests, Pryce's dereliction of family duty, the Falklands War and the Suez Crisis.

This is a fascinating piece. All the characters are ghastly, especially Jonathan Pryce's well-crafted central character. The standard of acting is consistently high. Despite the flaws, it is well worth seeing.