I had never heard about this film before it was broadcast on television, I was firstly attracted to it because of the great cast of British talent, and the concept sounded interesting, written by BAFTA nominated Alan Bennett (Prick Up Your Ears, The Madness of King George, The History Boys, The Lady in the Van). Basically set two years after the Second World War, Great Britain is continuing to endure food rationing. In a small Northern English town in 1947, the citizens are excited about the marriage of Princess Elizabeth to Prince Philip. Some local businessmen want to celebrate the royal wedding, but the rationing of meat makes it difficult. Leonard Sutcliff the Farmer (Chicken Run's Tony Haygarth) has been raising a pig that will be slaughtered for its meat for the occasion. Dr. Charles Swaby (BAFTA winning Denholm Elliott), Henry Allardyce the Accountant (Richard Griffiths), Frank Lockwood the Solicitor (John Normington) and Douglas J. Nuttol the Butcher (Pete Postlethwaite) are the only men who are aware of this illegally raised animal. However, the pig is stolen by Gilbert Chilvers (Michael Palin) the Chiropodist, he was reluctant to do so, but was encouraged by his wife Joyce (BAFTA winning Dame Maggie Smith). The couple keep the pig hidden in their home and continue to fatten it ready for when it comes to slaughtering it. Keeping this a secret from the businessmen and other village people is very difficult, and there is Morris Wormold the Meat Inspector (Bill Paterson) is determined to stop activities going against the food rationing. Eventually, through various circumstances, including the mutterings of Joyce's eccentric Mother (BAFTA winning Liz Smith), Swaby, Allardyce, Lockwood and Nuttol find out they have been hiding the pig. To avoid detection from Wormold, who is at that moment waiting in his car, that Nuttol should slaughter the pig there and then, Joyce plays the piano to hide the noises being made. In the end, there is a couple celebrating their own wedding, the slaughtered pig becomes part of a feast for this occasion. Also starring Alison Steadman as Mrs Allardyce, Jim Carter as Inspector Noble and Eileen O'Brien as Mrs Sutcliff. All the cast members get their moments, the script is witty and interesting enough, it is one of those films full of very subtle jokes, it works much more as a satirical look of the time of it is set, a worthwhile comedy. It was nominated the BAFTA for Best Film. Good!
Review of A Private Function
