This brittle exposure of bourgeoisie malaise and middle-class entitlement owes a debt to a myriad of influences, amongst them Mike Leigh, Chekhov and classic British cinema of the 60s. Marking Sally Potter’s return to the screen – the Orlando director’s last film was 2012’s Ginger and Rosa – this is a lean affair, set almost in one room. Yet the minimalist locations do little to contain magisterial peformances from the likes of Kristen Scott Thomas, Cillian Murphy and Timothy Spall.
Janet has just been achieved the crowning achievement of her political career. She and her husband Bill plan to celebrate this with a few close friends. As the guests arrive at their home in London the party takes an unexpected turn when Bill suddenly makes some explosive revelations that take everyone present by surprise. Love, friendships and political convictions are soon called into question..
While Potter is not well known for her comedy leanings, The Party shows she has a deft handle on farce and biting satire as the film trades in a number of brilliantly delivered one-liners and a finely judged level of physical comedy.
Shot during the weeks when the ‘Brexit’ referendum dominated the British headlines, the film echoes the spirit of a nation that is divided and unsure of its place in the world. But if that world is going to hell anyway, is there anything else to do but laugh?
(Laurence Boyce)
The Party
The Party
MS12
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Director
Sally Potter
Run time
1h 11min
Cast
Patricia Clarkson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Bruno Ganz, Cherry Jones
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Director
Sally Potter
Run time
1h 11min
Cast
Patricia Clarkson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Bruno Ganz, Cherry Jones
This brittle exposure of bourgeoisie malaise and middle-class entitlement owes a debt to a myriad of influences, amongst them Mike Leigh, Chekhov and classic British cinema of the 60s. Marking Sally Potter’s return to the screen – the Orlando director’s last film was 2012’s Ginger and Rosa – this is a lean affair, set almost in one room. Yet the minimalist locations do little to contain magisterial peformances from the likes of Kristen Scott Thomas, Cillian Murphy and Timothy Spall.
Janet has just been achieved the crowning achievement of her political career. She and her husband Bill plan to celebrate this with a few close friends. As the guests arrive at their home in London the party takes an unexpected turn when Bill suddenly makes some explosive revelations that take everyone present by surprise. Love, friendships and political convictions are soon called into question..
While Potter is not well known for her comedy leanings, The Party shows she has a deft handle on farce and biting satire as the film trades in a number of brilliantly delivered one-liners and a finely judged level of physical comedy.
Shot during the weeks when the ‘Brexit’ referendum dominated the British headlines, the film echoes the spirit of a nation that is divided and unsure of its place in the world. But if that world is going to hell anyway, is there anything else to do but laugh?
(Laurence Boyce)
Janet has just been achieved the crowning achievement of her political career. She and her husband Bill plan to celebrate this with a few close friends. As the guests arrive at their home in London the party takes an unexpected turn when Bill suddenly makes some explosive revelations that take everyone present by surprise. Love, friendships and political convictions are soon called into question..
While Potter is not well known for her comedy leanings, The Party shows she has a deft handle on farce and biting satire as the film trades in a number of brilliantly delivered one-liners and a finely judged level of physical comedy.
Shot during the weeks when the ‘Brexit’ referendum dominated the British headlines, the film echoes the spirit of a nation that is divided and unsure of its place in the world. But if that world is going to hell anyway, is there anything else to do but laugh?
(Laurence Boyce)
Info
Rating
Under 12 Not Recommended
Production year
2017
Global distributor
Great Point Media
Local distributor
Must Käsi 2 OÜ
In cinema
1/5/2018