A little gem.

Michael Kitchen is faultless in this riveting early 1900's tale about an affable country solicitor, Major Henry Armstrong, his sickly, ill-tempered wife and their three children. The major's lifestyle - that of a proper country gent - is hampered by his thirst, his lack of cash and his inability to keep his accounts in order.

Sara Miles plays Catherine, his miserable, complaining wife, and she does it to the hilt. You can quite easily feel sorry for the Major, even if he is a lazy, drunken old villian.

This is a famous true story and was first seen on television in the 90's. I saw it then and loved it and now I have seen the DVD, I think I must buy it.

The whole thing is so well done...the atmosphere of that era, particularly the slowness of everything brings home just how much the pace of life has increased since then.

Needless to say, Michael Kitchen is superb. The character he plays is not unlike something he did a few years ago, when he played a feckless old charmer who got Penelope Wilton, a wealthy widow, into his clutches. Sadly, I can't recall the name, but Kitchen is so good in these roles. In fact, he is good in whatever he does. And Sarah Miles is tailor made for her part.

A relaxing, amusing, and engrossing film.