Meantime (1983 Mike Leigh & scr)

Fantastic cast: Tim Roth, Phil Daniels (excellent), Gary Oldman, Marion Bailey (Mr Turner, All or Nothing), Alfred Molina, Jeffrey Robert, Pam Ferris, Tilly Vosburgh.

Has a certain something of This Is England about it.

Builds up to the usual emotional crisis - where the somewhat backward son stands up for himself and loses it, and the ensuing bonding between brothers. After hearing 'where have you been' - 'nowhere' so often it's telling that Phil's character wants to leave, and go 'anywhere'. Also we had to laugh at 'Shut up' followed by 'You shut up' between husband and wife.

Has a great and extremely unusual score by Andrew Dickson, played by him on a tack piano (drawing pins stuck into the hammers to create a tinny sound reminiscent of a dulcimer) and George Khan on tenor sax, which often perfectly punctuates the dialogue scenes. "When I hear the theme music, it evokes all kinds of stuff that was happening in my life at that moment; it goes beyond just the film. I'd say that music is more personally evocative to me than any music in any of my other films. It's so...unique."

Also loved the scene by a canal of Daniels and Oldman gradually receding into the distance; shot by Roger Pratt on 16mm for Channel 4.