Mike Leigh's Meantime (1984) has gotten a new life with the Criterion release of this previously BBC only screened, made-for-TV film. It is an indictment of the Thatcher-era economic malaise where unemployment was soaring. It looks at a working class family, the Pollocks and their unemployed sons in particular (Phil Daniels and Tim Roth) in London's East End that struggles with the lack of employment opportunities in a specific humanistic way. It is contrasted with the middle class family of their aunt (Marion Bailey) and her listless bank manager husband (Alfred Molina)from the suburbs that suffers in its own way. The film investigates other reactions to this dismal state such as becoming involved in the skinhead subculture through the energetic and aimless Coxy (the first screen appearance of Gary Oldman). It is an accurate reflection of the Thatcher years with remarkable performances from a number of actors who would go onto to successful careers later. The Criterion extras include: a new, restored 2K digital transfer, supervised by cinematographer Roger Pratt and director Mike Leigh, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack, a new conversation between Leigh and musician Jarvis Cocker, a new conversation between actor Marion Bailey and critic Amy Raphael, and an essay by film scholar Sean O'Sullivan.
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