Life is sweet (1990)

There is something in Mike Leigh’s films that compels me to feel and think. Leigh’s films might not be as political as Ken Loach’s, but all of his films contain a sense of hope that can be interpreted in political terms. That he would patronize his characters is something I can’t take seriously. For Leigh, nothing is simple. But he is not interested in the obscure either; very little in his films appeals to a sense of extravagant aesthetics. Actually, one might say that all his work follows the principle: "Nothing is hidden." 

Leigh’s films revolve around the business of everyday life. This is true for Life is sweet, too, even though there are plenty of scenes that dabble more in black comedy than kitchen sink realism. Life is sweet humorously dissects what it means to dream, or what it means to be quite happy in one’s present situation. Some of its characters are tragic because their dreams have remained private indulging of possibilities that will never see the test of reality. This goes for Aubrey, a weird man who has decided to open a French restaurant in a London suburb. An evening that begins with neat (over-the-top) decoration and great expectations ends in drunken catastrophe. Andy is a family man who is bored with his job. He dreams of a different life. His pal comes up with a plan that seems promising, but just for the two of them: a hot-dog van. Nicola, Andy’s daughter, is a rebel who doesn’t have much of a cause. She doesn’t quite know what to do with herself. Most of the time, we see her slouching around the house, complaining. She feels nothing but contempt for the world. She can’t even dream. Andy’s wife Wendy, on the other hand, seems happy with her life. She married young, but seems not to regret it. Through an ever-present laugh, she endures the company of eccentrics, and has a way of handling loony characters. Nicola’s sister, Natalie, exudes earthbound gentleness. Despite her parents’ initial protests, she chose to work as a plumber. Natalie is the realist, but she doesn’t have the cynicism we sometimes connect with realism. – 

All this makes for a gentle and heart-warming film about human relationships. With its many hideous examples of late 80s sense of "style", the film never creates a romantic image of its scruffy characters. Life is sweet may not be a cinematic masterpiece, but Leigh’s perspective on life and love is, I would say, refreshing in its dedication to forgiveness and reconciliation.

Boiled bacon consomme, yummy.