Bleak Moments (Loving Moments) (1972)

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(172 ratings)

Mike Leigh began his career as one of Britain's most interesting directors with this realistic drama about a woman looking for respite from an unsatisfying life. Sylvia (Anne Raitt) is a slightly overweight woman who works as a secretary and hasn't had much luck in romance. She shares her home with… More Mike Leigh began his career as one of Britain's most interesting directors with this realistic drama about a woman looking for respite from an unsatisfying life. Sylvia (Anne Raitt) is a slightly overweight woman who works as a secretary and hasn't had much luck in romance. She shares her home with her retarded sister, whom she looks after, and has been dating Peter (Eric Allen), a schoolteacher whom she hopes will ask her to marry him. However, one evening they have a date that doesn't go especially well, and Sylvia discovers that Peter is impotent; he breaks up with her shortly afterward. The only other interesting relationship in her life is with Norman (Mike Bradwell), a hippie who rents out Sylvia's garage as a workspace for his underground newspaper and plays songs on his guitar for her sister. Bleak Moments was adapted from a play written by Leigh; as is his habit, the story was created in collaboration with the actors who originated the roles. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 50 min.
Directed By: Mike Leigh
Written By: Mike Leigh
Genres: Drama, Television, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1971 Wide
On DVD: Jun 29, 2004
Studio: Unknown

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Might be too bleak a look at reality for some but it nevertheless is an uncompromising way of brilliantly telling its harrowing story.

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Walter M

"Bleak Moments" is a primordial instance of Mike Leigh miserablism, that while lacking technically in the sound department, still manages to adequately depict a group of people trapped by circumstances and obligation(Speaking of repression, from one of the movie's… More
"Bleak Moments" is a primordial instance of Mike Leigh miserablism, that while lacking technically in the sound department, still manages to adequately depict a group of people trapped by circumstances and obligation(Speaking of repression, from one of the movie's stills, I orignally thought it might be set in Victorian England due to the way one of the characters is dressed), set mostly over a single evening with just the barest hint of a light at the end of a tunnel that might not be an oncoming train for once. Sylvia(Anne Raitt) works in an accountant's office as a secretary while she also takes care of her mentally challenged sister Hilda(Sarah Stephenson). While this gives her little time for a social life, she manages to meet Peter(Eric Allan), a teacher who chafes at the intellectual limitations of his job, on the way home. They go out to eat for the evening, leaving Hilda in the care of Pat(Joolia Cappleman), Sylvia's friend and coworker, who also has to care for her invalid mother(Liz Smith). Enter Norman(Mike Bradwell), a musician, who rents Sylvia's garage to live in.