Mike Leigh – British Auteur
A Look at the Movies and Career of Britain's Greatest Film Director.
Nov 21, 2008
Mike Leigh is one of Britain's most famous leading film-makers. His films occupy an exalted position within the social realist canon, and are approached from a collaborative, improvisational angle. Leigh brings his cast together to act out scenes and find their characters. Often, there is no screenplay to speak of at the beginning, just ideas to be worked on, which as director he carefully oversees.
Are Mike Leigh's Films All Improvised?
From these improvisations, a script is carefully honed – so when the film is actually made the actors do have lines to say. The films themselves are not improvised, therefore, but they have evolved from improvisational sessions. Leigh says of this:
“You will find hardly any improvising on camera anywhere in my films. It's very structured, but it's all worked out from elaborate improvisations over a long period..."
Leigh has produced a hatful of cherished films in this idiosyncratic manner. He may not be pulling in crowds the size that attend Hollywood blockbusters, but he certainly has a dedicated, enthusiastic corner of the market. He counts himself lucky to be able to make films in the way that he does, without interference or even touting a script.
Alison Steadman and Abigail's Party
Mike Leigh was born in Manchester, England, in 1943. He found early success in the theatre with Abigail's Party, a brilliantly caustic play about social mores. Broadcast on television as part of BBC Play for Today in 1977, Abigail's Party has endured for more than 30 years. It has many fans who delight in the super-quotable dialogue, especially from Beverley - “Tone? A little cheesy-pineapple one?”. The social climbing, party-host nightmare Beverley was played to perfection by Alison Steadman, who was also married to Mike Leigh between 1973 and 2001, and has two children with him. As a character, Beverley isn't a million miles away from Steadman's current incarnation Pamela in Gavin and Stacey. Steadman has also appeared in several other Mike Leigh dramas including Nuts in May and Life is Sweet.
Meantime, Naked, Happy-Go Lucky
Other highlights from Mike Leigh's illustrious career include:
- Meantime (1984) A sweet at times, brutal at others story about life on the dole. Meantime showcased the acting talents of soon to be stars Tim Roth, Phil Daniels and Gary Oldman.
- High Hopes (1988) A slice of life comedy, with more than a little tragedy to balance it out. Starring Philip Davis and Ruth Sheen.
- Naked (1993) A fascinating but disturbingly bleak film, with a career defining performance from David Thewlis as the ranting social misfit Johnny.
- Secrets and Lies (1996) A terrific ensemble film about a daughter given up for adoption tracing her birth mother. Starring Brenda Blethyn, Timothy Spall, Marianne Jean-Baptiste.
- Topsy-Turvy (1999) A different sort of film for Leigh – a period set musical about Gilbert and Sullivan. Starring Jim Broadbent and Allan Corduner.
- Vera Drake (2004) Another film about secrets, with a stand-out performance from Imelda Staunton.
- Happy-Go-Lucky (2008) An eternally optimistic film about a sweet natured school teacher that lives her life in the manner suggested by the film's title. Check out actress Sally Hawkins and Mike Leigh discussing Happy-Go-Lucky here.
Mike Leigh has had an undeniable impact on British cinema, helping to shape the indigenous film industry into a unmistakably recognisable form. His films have had a significant influence on the landscape of cinema, and long may they continue to do so.
Further Reading: Social Realism in British Films.
Sources: Mike Leigh on Mike Leigh, IMDb.
