Director: Oliver Hermanus
Actors: Bill Nighy, Aimee Lou Wood, Alex Sharp, Adrian Rawlins
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG
‘Living’ is a quick, uncomplicated
little time capsule of a film. Set in 1953, it follows Mr Williams (Nighy) and his
team of bureaucrats working for London Council – new recruit Peter Wakeling (Sharp),
Mr Middleton (Rawlins), Mr Hart (Chris), Mr Rusbridger (Burton) and Ms Harris (Lou
Wood). There we see the uprightness, formality and disguised politeness that is
hard to fathom nowadays.
When Williams learns he has cancer,
he struggles with how to respond and how to tell his son, Michael (Fishwick).
Instead, he confides in Ms Harris and Mr Wakeling as he tries to find purpose.
There’s no debauchery or anything sinister – just a good, boring man, realising
that he is a boring old man and trying to make something of what time he has left.
Minimal score, great set/costume
design – very authentic 1950s feel – and all wrapped up in under 100min, this
is a very refined and assured film, with nothing spectacular happening, but a
well-told story nonetheless (noting I haven’t seen Kurosawa’s ‘Ikiru’ yet). Nighy
is understated and a pleasure to watch (and listen to) and the rest of the cast
lend able support.
Overall: Finding dignity in the mundane
Gav's Rating: 3.5 stars.
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