Leigh likes a laugh

Director Mike Leigh likes a giggle as much as the next man - and to prove it his cheery disposition, he has hit out at the "rubbish" claims that he makes downbeat films.

Speaking at the UK premiere of his latest offering, the upbeat Happy-Go-Lucky, Oscar-nominated Leigh said he had made "lots" of positive films, Digital Spy reports.

The director, whose previous films include Secrets & Lies, Vera Drake and Life Is Sweet, said although many of themes in his work reflect the "tough side of life", there were also plenty of laughs.

Happy-Go-Lucky certainly cranks up the feelgood factor, with Sally Hawkins (Layer Cake) starring as Poppy, a permanently positive sort who infects those around her with her optimistic outlook.

Hawkins' performance won her the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlin Film Festival, while Leigh was nominated for the Golden Bear as Best Director.

However, in between showing off how much he likes a laugh, Leigh also took time to criticise the Hollywood machine for preventing his film from reaching a wider audience.

"The fact that the system by which films are seen is dominated by Hollywood is lamentable," he told the BBC.

Happy-Go-Lucky opens in the UK on April 18th.

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