Mike Leigh’s gritty early work critiquing Thatcher’s England
As a kid who grew up in the North of Wales/England under Thatcher, I remember all too well the rallying cry and resentment of the working class. The government seemed to push those suffering even further into the mire, as unemployment crippled individuals, families, even whole cities. While many films and books have tackled this era, Mike Leigh has always tackled this and similar fare with a restrained rage and authenticity like no other.
Synopsis
A slow-burning depiction of economic degradation in Thatcher’s England, Mike Leigh’s Meantime is the culmination of the writer-director’s pioneering work in television. Unemployment is rampant in London’s working-class East End, where a middle-aged couple and their two sons languish in a claustrophobic public-housing flat. As the brothers (Phil Daniels and Tim Roth) grow increasingly disaffected, Leigh punctuates the grinding boredom of their daily existence with tense encounters, including with a priggish aunt (Marion Bailey) who has managed to become middle-class and a blithering skinhead on the verge of psychosis (a scene-stealing Gary Oldman, in his first major role). Informed by Leigh’s now trademark improvisational process and propelled by the lurching rhythms of its Beckett-like dialogue, Meantime is an unrelenting, often blisteringly funny look at life on the dole.
Like much of Leigh’s work, there’s not so much in the way of an overarching plot; it’s more of a character study, one set within the throes of the British recession of the 1980s. It’s stark storytelling, offering insights into class structure, economic woes, and political strife.
The focus is on the Pollocks, a surrogate for many working-class families at this time. Mark (Phil Daniels) and his brother Colin (Tim Roth) live with their parents Mavis (Pam Ferris) and Frank (Jeff Robert), all struggling to get by off their dole (welfare) payments. Family friend Coxy (Gary Oldman) helps stir up plenty of trouble for the boys, while the family’s travails are juxtaposed with Mavis’ sister Barbara (Marion Bailey) and her husband John (Alfred Molina), who live more comfortable lives in affluent part of the city but have their own misery to contend with. It’s about struggling to get by, while allying against society and the state in anger at their predicament, the drinking they do to cope, and how the latter exacerbates the former.
For many, it’ll be a surprising, gloomy glimpse into the bleakness that enveloped much of Britain during the ‘80s. It’s a film quietly fueled by rage against the government and politics in general, as you’d expect from Leigh. It’s bleak, often depressing at times, but brimming with authenticity, fleshed out characters, and their relationships. Meantime is a showcase for some early turns by some of Britain’s most talented character actors. It’s the people they craft within this time that draw you in to Leigh’s film, one that offers little hope or resolution to the problems these people face. The best they can hope for is temporary respite from the drudgery of getting by, with enough of a hint of the bonds of family affection to keep true darkness at bay.
The Package
Meantime was originally shot on 16mm as a made-for-TV film, Channel 4 in the UK to be precise. I remember watching the film on one occasion, and the difference in the presentation here is truly impressive. A new 2K restoration was supervised by director of photography Roger Pratt and director Mike Leigh. Detail and contrast are all markedly improved, with the grim texture and grain maintained. Special features include:
- New conversation between Leigh and musician Jarvis Cocker: The pair chat about their friendship after meeting in the ‘90s, class structure in Britain, Thatcher’s tenure, unemployment, and more. It’s a frank and interesting discussion.
- New conversation between actor Marion Bailey and critic Amy Raphael: Bailey is a frequent collaborater with Leigh; she talks about her history and relationship with the director, acting approach, character refinement, and other aspects of production that give a nuanced look at Leigh’s approach to filmmaking.
- Interview from 2007 with actor Tim Roth: While not as personal as the other two interviews, it’s Q&A format still allows Roth to talk aplenty about his career, and views on Meantime specifically.
- PLUS – An essay by film scholar Sean O’Sullivan: Liner notes feature details on the restoration, images from filming, and a detailed essay by O’Sullivan.
The Bottom Line
In Meantime, Mike Leigh crafted a film dripping with grit and quiet anger against the Thatcher years and the lower rung of society that bore the worst of it. It’s a moody, authentic film that showcases the beginnings for many actors who would go on to represent the cream of British acting talent. Given a welcome polish by Criterion, it’s well worth your time.
Meantime is available via Criterion from August 15th