Following the death of her adoptive parents, a successful young black optometrist establishes contact with her biological mother -- a lonely white factory worker living in poverty in East London.
Director:
Writer:
Awards:
- Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 36 wins & 42 nominations.
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Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Timothy Spall | ... |
Maurice
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| Phyllis Logan | ... |
Monica
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| Brenda Blethyn | ... |
Cynthia
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| Claire Rushbrook | ... |
Roxanne
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| Marianne Jean-Baptiste | ... |
Hortense Cumberbatch
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| Elizabeth Berrington | ... |
Jane
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| Michele Austin | ... |
Dionne
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| Lee Ross | ... |
Paul
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| Lesley Manville | ... |
Social Worker
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| Ron Cook | ... |
Stuart
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| Emma Amos | ... |
Girl with Scar
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| Brian Bovell | ... |
Hortense's Brother
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| Trevor Laird | ... |
Hortense's Brother
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| Clare Perkins | ... |
Hortense's Sister-in-Law
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Elias Perkins McCook | ... |
Hortense's Nephew
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Jane Mitchell | ... |
Senior Optometrist
(as June Mitchell)
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Janice Acquah | ... |
Junior Optician
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| Keylee Jade Flanders | ... |
Girl in Optician's
(as Keeley Flanders)
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| Hannah Davis | ... |
First Bride
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| Terence Harvey | ... |
First Bride's Father
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Kate O'Malley | ... |
Second Bride
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| Joe Tucker | ... |
Groom
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| Richard Syms | ... |
Vicar
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| Grant Masters | ... |
Best Man
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Annie Hayes | ... |
Mother in Family Group
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Jean Ainslie | ... |
Grandmother
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Daniel Smith | ... |
Teenage Son
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| Lucy Sheen | ... |
Nurse
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| Frances Ruffelle | ... |
Young Mother
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Felix Manley | ... |
Baby
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| Nitin Ganatra | ... |
Potential Husband
(as Nitin Chandra Ganatra)
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Metin Marlow | ... |
Conjuror
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Amanda Crossley | ... |
Raunchy Woman
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Su Elliot | ... |
Raunchy Woman
(as Su Elliott)
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Di Sherlock | ... |
Raunchy Woman
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Alex Squires | ... |
Triplet
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Lauren Squires | ... |
Triplet
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Sade Squires | ... |
Triplet
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Dominic Curran | ... |
Little Boy
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| Stephen Churchett | ... |
Man in Suit
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| David Neilson | ... |
Man in Suit
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Peter Stockbridge | ... |
Man in Suit
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| Peter Waddington | ... |
Man in Suit
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Rachel Lewis | ... |
Graduate
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| Paul Trussell | ... |
Grinning Husband
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Denise Orita | ... |
Uneasy Woman
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Margery Withers | ... |
Elderly Lady
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Theresa Watson | ... |
Daughter
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| Gordon Winter | ... |
Laughing Man
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| Jonny Coyne | ... |
Fiancé
(as Jonathan Coyne)
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Bonzo | ... |
Dog
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Texas | ... |
Cat
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| Peter Wight | ... |
Father in Family Group
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| Gary McDonald | ... |
Boxer
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| Alison Steadman | ... |
Dog Owner
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| Liz Smith | ... |
Cat Owner
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Sheila Kelley | ... |
Fertile Mother
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Angela Curran | ... |
Little Boy's Mother
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Linda Beckett | ... |
Pin-Up Housewife
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| Phil Davis | ... |
Man in Suit
(as Philip Davis)
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Wendy Nottingham | ... |
Glum Wife
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| Anthony O'Donnell | ... |
Uneasy Man
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| Ruth Sheen | ... |
Laughing Woman
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| Mia Soteriou | ... |
Fiancée
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Kate Doherty | ... |
Janette (uncredited)
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Brian Goodwin | ... |
Library user (uncredited)
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| Anna Pernicci | ... |
Waitress (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Mike Leigh | ||
Written by
| Mike Leigh | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Simon Channing Williams | ... | producer (as Simon Channing-Williams) |
Music by
| Andrew Dickson | ||
Cinematography by
| Dick Pope | ... | (photographed by) |
Editing by
| Jon Gregory | ||
Editorial Department
| Valentina Giambanco | ... | second assistant editor |
| Kate Mackenzie | ... | first assistant editor |
| Steve Mercer | ... | trainee editor: FT2 |
| Clive Noakes | ... | color timer |
| Robert Pond | ... | Negative assembly supervisor |
| Ian Seymour | ... | first assistant editor |
| Victoria Stevens | ... | trainee: FT2 |
Casting By
| Susie Parriss | ... | (as Parriss) |
| Paddy Stern | ... | (as Stern) |
Production Design by
| Alison Chitty | ||
Art Direction by
| Eve Stewart | ||
Set Decoration by
| Liz Griffiths | ... | (uncredited) |
Costume Design by
| Maria Price | ||
Makeup Department
| Christine Blundell | ... | makeup artist |
| Kirstin Chalmers | ... | assistant hair stylist (as Kirstin Weguelin) / assistant makeup artist (as Kirstin Weguelin) |
Production Management
| Georgina Lowe | ... | production supervisor |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Zerlina Hughes | ... | third assistant director |
| Jennie Osborn | ... | first assistant director |
| Josh Robertson | ... | second assistant director |
| Chris Rose | ... | first assistant director |
| Paula Spinks | ... | fourth assistant director |
Art Department
| Hilly Benjamin | ... | assistant art director |
| Jim Booth | ... | art department assistant |
| Paul Cutler | ... | chargehand props |
| Martin Fitzpatrick | ... | property pick-up |
| Liz Griffiths | ... | production buyer |
| Guy Hunt | ... | stand-by carpenter |
| Peter Looby | ... | stand-by props |
| Nic Orlande | ... | construction manager |
| Tom Read | ... | dressing props |
| Nick Rose | ... | property master |
| Guy Rutter | ... | stand-by painter |
| Pete Lennox | ... | carpenter (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Sue Baker | ... | dubbing editor |
| Orin Beaton | ... | boom operator |
| Mick Boggis | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Diane Greaves | ... | foley walker |
| Michelle Greaves | ... | foley walker |
| Loveday Harding | ... | boom operator |
| Derek Holding | ... | adr editor |
| Derek Lomas | ... | dialogue editor |
| Peter Maxwell | ... | re-recording mixer |
| George Richards | ... | sound recordist |
| Ted Swanscott | ... | adr mixer / foley mixer |
| William Trent | ... | foley editor (as Bill Trent) |
Visual Effects by
| David Smith | ... | title opticals: Peerless (as Dave Smith) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Graham Baker | ... | rigger |
| Richard Blackmore | ... | generator operator |
| Lucy Bristow | ... | focus puller |
| Alan Coster | ... | electrician |
| Frank Cox | ... | best boy |
| Marco di Giulio | ... | electrician |
| Martin Duncan | ... | gaffer |
| Joe Dunton | ... | camera equipment / camera rental |
| Simon Mein | ... | still photographer |
| Andy Ormesher | ... | rigger |
| Dan Shoring | ... | clapper loader |
| Colin Strachan | ... | camera grip |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Zoe Porter | ... | wardrobe trainee (as Zoë Porter) |
| Jackie Thomas | ... | wardrobe assistant |
| Allison Wyldeck | ... | costume supervisor |
Location Management
| Mike Carter | ... | assistant location manager |
| Mark Mostyn | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Chas Dickie | ... | musician: cello |
| Keith Grant | ... | music engineer |
| Michael Laird | ... | musician: flugelhorn |
| Step Parikian | ... | music supervisor |
| Helen Tunstall | ... | musician: harp |
| Ivo van der Worff | ... | musician: viola |
| Chris West | ... | musician: double bass |
Script and Continuity Department
| Heather Storr | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Bill Nixon | ... | unit driver |
| Bianca Stone | ... | transportation |
| John Stone | ... | transportation |
| Bill Wright | ... | unit driver |
Additional Crew
| Chris Allies | ... | title designer |
| Ian Differ | ... | trainee: FT2 |
| Graham Easton | ... | completion bond: film finances services |
| Stephanie Fauger | ... | production coordinator (as Stephanie Faugier) |
| Phillip Kenny | ... | production executive |
| David Lewisohn | ... | solicitor: Theodore Goddard |
| Matthew Potts | ... | production runner |
| Deborah Reade | ... | assistant to producer |
| Roger Sampson | ... | insurance: Sampson and Allen |
| Iain Struthers | ... | trainee: FT2 |
| Claire Thompson | ... | floor runner |
| Sarah Trowse | ... | assistant accountant |
| Will Tyler | ... | production accountant (as William Tyler) |
| Mark Westaway | ... | solicitor: Theodore Goddard |
| Karen Yeaman | ... | trainee: FT2 |
| Raoul B. Reinert | ... | legal consultant (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- CiBy 2000 (presents)
- Channel Four Films (in association with)
- Thin Man Films
Distributors
- Film Four Distributors (1996) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- CiBy 2000 (1996) (France) (theatrical)
- Cinemussy (1996) (Spain) (theatrical)
- France Eigasha (1996) (Japan) (theatrical)
- October Films (1996) (United States) (theatrical)
- RCV Film Distribution (1996) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland (1996) (Finland) (theatrical)
- AmaFilms (1997) (Greece) (theatrical)
- Eurocine (1997) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Norsk Filmdistribusjon (1997) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Sandrew Film (1997) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (1997) (United States) (VHS)
- Alliance Home Video (1997) (Canada) (VHS)
- Argentina Video Home (1997) (Argentina) (VHS)
- New Star (1997) (Greece) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1997) (Finland) (VHS)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (2000) (Finland) (tv)
- Plus Video (2010) (Argentina) (DVD)
- Asociace Ceských Filmových Klubu (ACFK) (1998) (Czechia) (theatrical)
- Arthaus (2021) (Germany) (Blu-ray) (Mike Leigh Edition)
- Arthaus (2021) (Germany) (DVD) (Mike Leigh Edition)
- HBO Max (2020) (United States) (video) (VOD)
- LW Editora (Brazil) (DVD)
- Leopardo Filmes (2018) (Portugal)
- Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2000) (Finland) (DVD) (cropped to 1.33:1)
- Telefilm Hellas (1998) (Greece) (VHS)
- The Criterion Channel (2019) (United States) (tv) (digital)
- Versátil Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
- Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- AFM Lighting (lighting)
- Cannes Film Festival (festival)
- Descriptive Video Works (descriptive video)
- Joe Dunton & Company (camera equipment provided by)
- Movietech (camera equipment provided by)
- O & A (construction)
- Salon (editing equipment)
- Sapex Scripts (post-production script services)
- Set Meals (catering)
- The Creek Music studios - Sunbury, England (music studio)
- Tru-Cut (negative cutting)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Cynthia lives in London with her sullen street-sweeper daughter. Her brother has been successful with his photographer's business and now lives nearby in a more upmarket house. But Cynthia hasn't even been invited round there after a year. So, all round, she feels rather lonely and isolated. Meanwhile, in another part of town, Hortense, adopted at birth but now grown up, starts to try and trace her mother. Written by Jeremy Perkins {J-26} |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Roxanne drives her mother crazy. Maurice never speaks to his niece. Cynthia has a shock for her family. Monica can't talk to her husband. Hortense has never met her mother. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $4,500,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | To add a spontaneous effect to the performances, Mike Leigh met with each actor individually and only told them what their character would know at the beginning of the film. As filming progressed the actors were hearing the secrets for the very first time. See more » |
| Goofs | When Roxanne pushes Cynthia onto the bed, the shadow of a crew member's head is seen moving on the bed. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Extreme Measures/Secrets & Lies/2 Days in the Valley/Caught/Ed's Next Move (1996). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Happy Birthday to You See more » |
| Quotes |
Maurice:
Secrets and lies! We're all in pain! Why can't we share our pain? I've spent my entire life trying to make people happy, and the three people I love the most in the world hate each other's guts, and I'm in the middle! I can't take it anymore! See more » |