A Sense of History (1992 TV Movie) User Reviews

British short film at its best.

[Tintin a Tokyo · 9/10 · 5 November 2000]

A Sense of History is a brilliantly funny short.

Purporting to be a documentary on a member of the British landed gentry, the 23rd Earl of Leete himself tells his august (and not so) family's story, stretching back to the Norman conquest.

A Sense of History mimics a peculiarly English documentary style with beautiful subtlety- the camera angles and movement as the Earl shows the viewer his estate, his Attenborough-like aristocratic tones and speech mannerisms, his smoothly flowing dialogue in contrast to and yet in effective tandem with numerous cuts to various parts of his woodland estate significant to his story. Even the Earl's encounter with one of his awkwardly deferential workers reinforces a particular sense of reported social reality.

At the introduction, with the Earl walking through a ruined arch and in an oh-so BBC tone talking about how he has always had a "sense of history" (exit right Earl, focus moves up to arch, cue title, trumpet intro music), it's difficult to tell that you are not watching a genuine documentary.

Without giving away the story, the audience is gradually made aware that all is not what it seems. This is achieved so cleverly and artfully, employing all the conventions of the "serious English documentary" that every successive cut to a new morsel of narration and revelation adds cumulatively to audience enjoyment without requiring an unbelievable climax. The tag after the credits puts the finishing touch on a truly marvellous short film. See it if you can.

A fascinating film

[pendavid · 9/10 · 28 October 2005]

Ihave just seen (most) of this on Film Four - missed the first few minutes. I recognised it instantly as a play I heard on Radio 4, 4 or 5 years ago. I was completely suckered into its premise then of a lovable old buffer reminiscing, whose ruthlessness and self-centredness gradually become only too apparent. I thought it was brilliant and funny and a pretty devastating critique of the English ruling class. I have been looking out for it ever since. So I was delighted to come upon the film which I didn't know existed till tonight. And the I found it was written and acted by Jim Broadbent and directed by Mike Leigh! That says a lot. However for some reason I didn't find the film so funny. The radio play was done as a memoir, just the character talking and somehow seemed more intimate, and the character so horrifyingly likable at first. I don't know if it was Jim Broadbent himself. I wonder if anybody else has heard the radio play and seen the film and has any comments. And who was the actor playing the Earl in the play? I would love to know if it was JB. Is the script available I wonder?

A Sense of History

[CinemaSerf · 7/10 · 17 February 2024]

There's something distinctly Churchillian about Jim Broadbent's rather engaging performance as the 23rd Earl of Leete. His rather grand exposé of their country estate (in front of an instantly recognisable Highcere) begins with the traditional "held in trust" kind of monologue, then the peer gradually drifts into a bit of familial character assassination that depicts his mother as a cough-medicine addict, his father as a rather stupid bully, and his elder brother - and the heir apparent - as a raging homosexual (even if he was 11 years old!). Anyway, with the estate in dire straits and his brother unlike to procreate, this seven year old Lord decides to dispose of his brother. Pigeon and rabbit shooting was a popular family pastime, so we now get a fairly graphic and detailed description of just what happened (think "Kind Hearts and Coronets") before continuing, seamlessly, with chat about the growth of the estate after the reformation under the 6th Earl and then a brief conversation with one of his tractor driving serfs! More family tragedies ensue and the narration becomes even more darkly humoured as we venture into his own WWII not so conscientious objections and his, qualified, support for the organisational genius that was Hitler! How to expand the estate? Well that's where marriage comes in. No sentiment, just acreage and knowing which fork to use! Finally, and this is where it comes off the rails a bit, he falls in love with a stable lass and decides that his homicidal tendencies needed honing again. Broadband's efforts and his pithy writing marries the pompous and the comedic excellently here, and his proud historical speechifying is expertly contrasted by his rants and his sense of privilege. A must see, this.

Absolutely Brilliant!

[athena-51 · 10/10 · 30 November 2004]

I saw this film several years ago, and since then have been trying to find a way to see it again.

One of the most unforgettable and brilliant pieces of work I have ever seen.

I enjoyed it so much I still tell people about it. I have been trying to find how to get hold of it through several telephone calls and internet investigations only to be told it was unobtainable.

Ingeniously crafted with Jim Broadbent entrapping me perfectly in his web. I kept thinking I was watching a legitimate documentary only to to see it eventually unfold into an incredibly funny and clever comedy. As it started to wind down to the end I could feel myself tensing up as if somehow I could stop it from finishing.

BRAVO! BRAVO! BRAVO! But please guys, don't withhold this from the world.

Had me in stitches of laughter

[john-perceval · 10/10 · 21 January 2005]

Brendan summed it up nicely but it doesn't stress how funny this short really is.

This is a must see short film that you will never forget and be forever quoting.

All I can add is to persevere through the seemingly boring long opening of a documentary on a British aristocrat land owner talking about the values of family tradition, increasing ones land, and finding a fine wife; before you know it you will find that this is no ordinary Earl (or is he!?!?)

Jim Broadbent at his best!

Wow

[blue_air · 10/10 · 28 March 2006]

This is a wonderful piece of film. A moving, stirring, tragic and comic short, which is essentially nothing more than a monologue!!!

Jim Broadbent is spectacular and the whole thing is beautifully put together. I saw this in the film tent at Glastonbury a couple of years ago and have just managed to see the streaming available to all on the channel 4 site, I will certainly be spreading the link to as many people as i can. (I believe it is posted on the message board for the film.)

This is a piece of television which I could happily watch over and over. The "spoof" documentary style (although this certainly isn't the best description) works to a tee and as the story unfolds and the life of the Earl unravels it becomes clear that much thought has been put not only into the script but also acting performance and filming. Watch it and love it.

A superb actor at his superb best.

Quite Wonderful!

An intelligent and absorbing vignette

[The Stoofer · 10/10 · 18 September 2001]

The family history of the Earls of Leete, told by the 23rd Earl (Jim Broadbent) is a hypnotic masterpiece. Very funny, very black and very intelligent.

This is virtually a monologue. I tend to find monologues boring, although the British seem to do them quite well. But this was utterly absorbing. Although Jim Broadbent tells the story in the typically relaxed manner of a Brit aristocratic, I was on the edge of my seat wanting to hear the story.

I wish the British aristocracy was really like this.

A parody of an aristocrat

[silvan-peterhans · 13 October 2011]

If you would like to see an unusual, remarkable movie, don't miss "A sense of history" directed by Mike Leigh. This astonishing little piece of work was written and performed by the British actor Jim Broadbent, well known from many other films in Great Britain. The story takes place on a manor somewhere in Scotland. Jim Broadbent, playing a wealthy Earl shows what "a sense of history" also can be. No knights, no battles nor queens, but a "respectable" old man, reflecting on his life, that hides more crimes than you can imagine. The destiny of his first wife, his children? The dramatic fate of his father and - last but not least - the terrible end of his older brother? Have a look, you won't be disappointed by this parody of the old Bristish aristocracy...

The history tells you about the interesting life of the Earl of Leete.

[orlik_aline_26 · 7/10 · 13 October 2011]

"A sense of history" is a parody of the upper-class life in Britain. The film was directed by Mike Leigh and written and performed by Jim Broadbent in 1992. The movie tells about the life of the Earl of Leete. Since he was young he had a lot of responsibility, because he inherited 10000 hectares of land from his father. His childhood wasn't that good. He didn't go on well with his parents, and he killed his brother when he was 7 years young. He also killed his first wife and his two sons which had seen how he killed her. During the second World War, he said that he respected Adolf Hitler, because he brought up Germany and their economy from 0 to 100. With his second wife he had again two sons, and he seemed to be quite happy with the situation. The most pleasure for him was to be proud that he caught the bastards out of his land. My opinion of the movie is quite good. I liked the to learn something about his life and what happened. It shows us that we can have as much as we want, but our life can be hard an we have to fight all the time. Every person has his dark side and his secrets, but we have to learn to live with them. The past makes you what you are now. I think this film has to get a rate from 7/10 because the history isn't that usual and you don't see every day such a movie. I also liked it because it's a kind of a black comedy and it makes you thinking about it. I would recommend it to those people who like this kind of parody and who want to know more about the Earl of Leete.

Top of my List

[wayne-350 · 10/10 · 11 June 2007]

I got suckered into this film on BravoTV believing I was looking at a documentary, then soon it's real nature began to show itself. Extremely well written, acted, directed, and crafted as well as a BBC documentary. If one only watched the cinematography, this film is remarkably beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed this film and count it with "The Secret Cinema", "Karma Cafe", "The Music Box" and "Duck Amok" as my favorite short films. Needless to say, I didn't rest until I found it's repeat broadcast on Bravo's schedule. This film made me aware of the towering talent of Jim Broadbent. His performances in "Iris", "Little Voice" and "Moulin Rouge" have all been treats and I'll never again miss a Broadbent film.

Diary of a sociopath

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 29 July 2016]

"A Sense of History" is a British 26-minute short film from 1992, so it will have its 25th anniversary next year. It was written by actor Jim Broadbent (a while before his Oscar win) and he also plays the main character, almost only character. The director is the very successful Mike Leigh. During the entire film, we basically follow an old aristocrat telling is the story of his life. This includes several wives, relatives and what he did in general during all these years. Broadbent was in his early 40s here, but they used aging makeup on him, so he basically looks the way he looks today in reality. This film was nominated for a BAFTA, but lost to the French nominee that also won the Oscar back then. But back to this one here: I like Broadbent as an actor, but I must say his work here did very little for me. I don't think the problem was his acting, but rather the script. I really never cared at all for the guy, maybe because he was a sociopath murder, maybe because he was so full of himself or maybe just because he never really felt too authentic to me. Probably a combination of everything. Then again, it's British humor and this one I have never been too big on anyway in terms of many British comedians and comedies that are loved by everybody. Of course, there is also a drama component here. All in all, I give this one a thumbs-down. Not recommended.

A black parody....

[janine-restle · 13 October 2011]

A sense of history

"A sense of history" is a parody of upper-class life about a British aristocrat. The film was set in 1992 in the Highdere Castle, Hampshire. The director was Mike Leigh who directed other films for example "Five Senses". The star of the film Jim Broadbent was also responsible for the script. The 23rd Earl of Leete, a very British and eccentric landowner takes us on a tour of his estate and tells us of the progress of over 900 years of family history. The Earl describes in detail the killing of his brother, drowning his first wife and his two sons who were witnesses of his crime. As we listen to the story we discovered in spite of his new family he is a lonely man who lives with the emotional baggage of his past. Through a mixture of tragedy and comedy the film seems to convey a message that life can be terrible when people are greedy for material things, like in "A sense of history" huge land. This attitude will make you lonely and selfish. This film would be appreciated by people who like parodies and have a black sense of humor.

A sense of history

[natsume2 · 13 October 2011]

It seemed difficult to understand this film even if you just finished watching it or if you watched it just once. It would be even harder to understand if you do not try to understand profoundly and even you are not British. Since, we are not living in hierarchical society anymore, even though there are still titles like 'Earl', it does make sense not to be able to understand this film at all. 20minutes. It is the amount of the time which Mike Leigh has used to show the stupidity of 'The earl' who is thought of as representative of modern society upper class. And it was enough. From now on, I am going to give you some tips which could be helpful for you to understand this film. Firstly, just imagine based on your common sense that how honorable for our ancestors to be a noble was. Just imagine in the same way how glorious for them to be a noble was. Perhaps, it is still attractive for somebody in Britain to be a noble, however. Then, just remind yourself how 'The earl' had looked on screen. and just remind yourself how 'The earl' had described his whole life in his powerless voice. 'The earl' in the film walked with a cane in very cold weather. While he kept walking with his cane, not alone, he was describing his life. Although he had succeeded in inheriting 10,000 acres lands from his father, it seemed that there was nothing he could harvest. Even the woolly flock which were eating grasses around his lands were not his. The man who was driving tractor whom 'The earl' met on the road did not look like a noble, although, I am sure his tractor must be thousands times expensive than his cane and worthier than his cane to have. 'The earl' killed his brother just because he had wanted to inherit from his father. It is not important if his brother was homosexual or not. Instead of brotherhood which is believed as one of the most valuable thing in the world, he had just got worthless 10,000 acres lands. 'The earl' had asked his wife to divorce him to get married his second lover. He killed her because she had refused to divorce him. Furthermore, he killed his two adorable sons because they had witnessed it. Finally, he got married to a third woman and had another two children with her. He seemed to get everything he wanted to have. However, at the end of the film, he showed his fear that what had happened to his family in the past, would happen to him again. Is this the image of the noble we normally have imagined? The noble are supposed to have luxury life and to have lots of valuable things. Aren't they? But how has 'The earl' been in this film? Did he look good?

a parody of upper class life in Britain

[oqazo11 · 13 October 2011]

A sense of history, which is directed by Mike Leigh, is a parody of upper class life in Britain. It tells the story of an Earl's life which seems miserable and tragic. This film is made of narration by himself showing places where every single event had happened. His tone of narration is full of emotion expressed how he felt about the story.

He was born in well of family so he was under pressure to keep his heritage. In order to 'his duty' , he killed his wife brother on purpose when he was 7 years old. Besides, he killed his wife and adorable children to get divorce. How cruel he was. I feel really sorry for him in terms of his life. He must have been lonely for his entire life because he had not been able to trust people who are around him. What's more, I think this film shows us a situation of modern society because it it quite similar to a way of thinking which we have. So it tries to remind us of capitalism which goes worse and worse. I'd like to recommend this to people who want to think about our society and how money makes people selfish and crazy

A sense of history

[tania-genoud · 13 October 2011]

"A sense of history" is a short film about upper class life in Britain. Broadbent is the 23rd Earl of Leete who takes us for a tour around his vast domain and telling us the incredible history of his family heritage. During the walk, this very banal and typical British landowner appears like an eccentric and psychopath person able to do anything to keep his material position. The film was directed by Mike Leigh in 1992. Known for his sensitive and satirical talent, he is one of the best English movie directors. He makes a lot of success such as "Secrets and Lies" which won numerous awards, including the "Palme d'Or" at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival. The script was written by Jim Broadbent, the main actor in the film. "A sens of history" is the first time that Mike Leigh has directed for another writer. Though a mixture of tragedy and comedy, the film seems to convey the message than an obsession with power and material goods will leave you without emotion and devoid of humanity. What seems to be, at the first view, a boring documentary about high society in the 20th century, becomes a dark comedy when the main character reveals us suspicious things he did in his life. Are all the British landowners as lunatic and homicidal as Broadbent?... This film will be appreciated by people besotted with typical British black humor who like parodies.