Very Annie Mary (2001) User Reviews

A little gem of a film

[kanga-5 · 7/10 · 17 March 2002]

I enjoyed every minute of this film, and I think that's the great thing about it; it's consistently entertaining. It's got funny moments, touching moments, sad moments, and a downright beautiful finale that left me feeling warm.

It's not a blockbuster, it doesn't have car chases or explosions or explore the depths of the human psyche, but it's very enjoyable in a down-to-earth sort of way.

The characters really draw you in and are excellently portrayed by the cast, with unintrusive directing that lets the superb script do the work. I was surprised at how low this film had scored, and recommend that anyone who roots for the underdog or has ever wanted to just say 'Nuts to the lot of you, I'm doing what *I* want' will enjoy Very Annie Mary. Go on, give it a try. You might like it...

The baker's daughter

[jotix100 · 7/10 · 20 September 2006]

The life of Annie Mary changes completely after the death of her mother. Annie Mary, who had a beautiful voice, suddenly stopped trying to sing opera. Her life in the small Welsh town is boring, to say the least. To make matters worse, her best friend, Bethan Bevan, is struck by cancer. Annie Mary, who is a loyal friend, wants to help her sick friend go to Disneyland.

Annie Mary's father, Jack, has a bakery in the town. We see him as he makes his deliveries in a Luciano Pavarotti's mask and singing in his beautiful tenor opera arias that are much admired by the people of the area. When he suffers a stroke, Annie Mary's life goes into a tail spin. As a caretaker, Annie Mary is useless. As much as she tries to make a go at being a baker, she never makes it work. In desperation she turns to Mrs. Madoc, her father's girlfriend, to buy her out.

As a way to help Bethan, Annie Mary and a few of the town's women, she decides to enter a contest in Cardiff. They have prepared to do a number of the Village People, "Y.M.C.A.", but they are horrified when they arrive at the hall where the competition is going to be held, and watch a group of men doing exactly their number, much better. The women decide to change their act into a sort of "Three Tenors" aria in which Annie Mary, wearing an inflated rubber suit, floats into the audience. Needless to say, they win, but emboldened by the turn of events in her life, she gambles all the money into a horse race and loses it.

Annie Mary becomes Ogw's most hated person. What's more the trip to Disneyland is too late for Bethan, who suffers a relapse. It's at this point that Annie Mary finds her voice again and she gives her friend a rendition of Puccini's aria "O mio bambino caro" in a shaky voice that gets better as the scene changes to another location.

Sara Sugarman, the writer and director of this screwball comedy was lucky in casting one of the most talented actresses working in films these days: Rachel Griffiths. Ms. Sugarman gets a tremendous performance out of Ms. Griffiths, who shows her range in a role she was born to play. Jonathan Pryce is also excellent as the distant father who can't see eye to eye with his daughter.

Although sometimes the accents get a bit hard to follow, the luminous presence of Ms. Griffiths and the sure direction of Ms. Sugarman make us overlook that minor problem and enjoy the comedy.

Mild spoilers.

[kathye-8 · 6/10 · 24 May 2007]

I settled down to watch this having recorded it some years ago when it was shown in the BBC sign zone, something I had forgotten till the sign language started up in the bottom corner! My sister must have recommended it to me as one of her favourites and that was all I knew of it. I found I didn't know what to make of the film throughout, was it funny or sad, comedy or tragedy? I guess it's both.

Some bits shocked me, like her maltreatment of her disabled father, yet it made me adjust the stereotyped view of someone in this situation and remember that she was barely able to take care of herself properly and therefore totally clueless about caring for a disabled person, let alone him being the father who had put her down with his criticism for years.

Whether it was the filmmaker's intent, I found the sensation of watching brought alive the situation of life just 'happening' to Annie Mary so that one moment her friend Bethan says she's in remission and the next she's talking about a hospice with no lead up to it either way.

Annie Mary felt a very real character in the way that I found myself liking and disliking her, she wasn't all good or all bad as a human as with some of the more 'easy' to watch films from Hollywood where you know who to like and dislike within minutes of meeting them.

Overall it has been a film that has made a real impact on me, too soon to say what but waking up having watched it the night before I find it is still vivid in my mind, still making me think... and feel.

A Love Song to Life

[gpadillo · 28 September 2004]

Very Annie Mary took me by shock and surprise.

Rachel Griffiths gives her finest performance – and though the film is 3 years old, she hasn't as yet done anything quite as satisfying as her brilliant turn as Annie.

33 year old, Annie comes off as mildly retarded, and, in the truest sense of the word, she is, since life pretty well ended at 15. That's when Annie Mary, who wanted nothing more than to be an opera singer, won a vocal competition judged by Pavarotti who told her she would have a marvelous career, and she's given a grant to study in Milan.

That same week, her mother took ill, died, and Annie was forced to give up her dreams to stay and take her mother's place in the home. Her father accomplishes his means by humiliating Annie into believing she isn't special, she isn't, in fact, anything at all.

As Dad, Pugh, Jonathan Pryce is terrific as. Selfish and cold hearted almost two decades after he's shattered her dreams, the man still berates his daughter calling her talentless, useless, stupid, slovenly and cuts her to her heart laughing at her "what man would ever have you?" He forces her to dress in his own dead mother's shapeless, matronly as he constantly tells Annie how beautiful her mother was.

The film opens with Pryce singing Puccini's Nessun Dorma from a mounted speaker system atop his bakery delivery truck as he drives through the Welsh countryside. As the camera pulls in, we see Pugh "The Voice of the Valley" in a rubber Pavarotti mask and wearing an Pavarotti sized tuxedo. Beautiful and hilarious all at once.

While not slapstick Griffiths' Annie Mary is prone to extreme clumsiness – often moving (especially when running) like an excited 5 year old, all stiff arms and awkwardness. She's adorable. Clumsiness leads to minor accidents, falls down stairs, running into doors and other objects – each moment is hilarious yet does something to endear this ugly duckling even more to us.

When Dad suffers a stroke, Annie Mary is forced to take care of the household – with riotous and disastrous results.

The heart of the film centers around Annie's relationship the village and her best friend, Bethan, a bedridden teenager. The village wish for Bethan is to send her to Disneyland. Bethan's only wish is to hear Annie sing. Through an unlikely series of events(including a talent competition, a bouncing Pavarotti, the Village People and the Welsh Grand National Horserace and the entire village turning against Annie) Bethan – and the village – get to hear Annie Mary find her voice again. It is a magical moment blending pathos, forgiveness, hope, heartbreak and Puccini, as Annie Mary finds not only her voice, but the means to carry on.

Very Annie Mary is easily one of the most joyous DVD discoveries I've made.

p.

A very enjoyable film but with a better film trying to get out

[tim-894 · 7/10 · 24 June 2005]

I had never heard of this film but it was in my local library in north London so I decided to give it a try. It took a while to get into it and at first I found most of the characters annoying; either caricatures or buffoons. But it sort of grew on me. It is certainly far better than a good deal of the Hollywood dross that is foisted on us because of the distribution system in the UK. Quirky, funny, sometimes irritating but mostly amusing, this made me long to go back to Wales. It seemed to get to the heart of the country in the way that The Full Monty got into the heart of Sheffield. The two gay guys doing "Annie Get Your Gun" was one of many very funny, and touching, original little scenes with which this film is filled. I think this movie may well grow as it ages and eventually be seen as a little classic. I hope so because, at least for one afternoon, it really made me smile.

Very nice but not what I expected

[daphne4242 · 7/10 · 9 February 2010]

I think some of the negative reviews come from people who expected this to be another sunshine funny film romance. It is funny but not light-hearted. It's actually quite dark. There's crippling illness and death and no boyfriend at the end of it. But mixed in with that are some very funny scenes, some excellent cameo performances and some super music. I'm from South Wales and everyone from there that I know loves this film and finds it very resonant. Jonatahn Pryce's Welsh accent seemed fine, just what you hear every day in the shop. I think this film might get a better reception in Britain now that Gavin and Stacey has softened up the rest of the country for both the Welsh accent and people.

A Little Town in South Wales is Bursting with Life and Stories

[gradyharp · 10/10 · 24 September 2005]

VERY ANNIE MARY is a quirky little film written and directed by Sara Sugarman that manages to delve into myriad fantasies and manners and crushed dreams and come out with a thoroughly tender, warm hearted and funny result. There are more interesting characters of all types in this story, each of whom could be expanded into a film all their own.

After a rollicking opening sequence of a bakery delivery van topped with speakers blasting Puccini's 'Nessun dorma' over lovely countryside of Wales - the driver is the town baker Jack Pugh (Jonathan Pryce) who wears a rubber mask and bloated suit that mimic Pavarotti singing along with a recording - we meet the town folk. Jack's daughter Annie Mary (Rachel Griffiths) is in her 30s, stuck as a surrogate wife and slave to her father and his bakery business. She seems loopy and perhaps retarded (socially indeed, if not a bit mentally) and has borne the brunt of her father's scorn since her mother died when she was fifteen, just when Annie had won a singing competition judged by Pavarotti. The loss of her mother places her in the role of 'wife' to the dastardly John who daily convinces her she is a nothing while he pursues his avocation of singing for the townsfolk as the Voice of the Valley. Annie's only remnant of her past survives in her teaching voice lessons to such odd folk as Hob (Ioan Gruffudd) and Nob (Matthew Rhys), gay friends of hers with delusions of Hollywood. Her closest friend is teenage Bethan (Joanna Page) who is ill.

Annie Mary spies a house on the market, desperately wants to get out from under her father's control to make a life of her own, and shares this with Bethan. During one of his concerts John collapses with a stroke and it appears Annie's dreams of independence are crushed. The townsfolk decide they want to befriend Bethan and monies are gathered to send Bethan on her 'dream' - a trip to Disneyland. In a hilarious talent show meant to raise funds for the Disneyland trip Annie and her friends win the contest and the money meant for Bethan's trip is entrusted to Annie. Annie again stumbles and squanders the funds on her own dreams by buying sensual satisfaction. Broken by her own mistake, Annie confesses to Bethan and Bethan replies that her only dream before dying is to hear Annie sing. And sing Annie does, in probably the most touching performance of Puccini's 'O mio bambino caro'. At last Annie Mary has regained her self-respect and has a glimpse of her own life. The closing multiple resolutions of the film are full of surprises of the best kind.

Every character in this delightful film is well acted, but there are moments by some, like the very weird, besotted minister (Kenneth Griffith), that certainly deserve awards for brilliance. VERY ANNIE MARY is a rich, multilayered, magical film with outstanding performances by Rachel Griffiths and Jonathan Pryce. The only fault one might find is that much of the dialogue is indecipherable due to the Welsh accents that challenge the ear! Highly recommended. Grady Harp

quirky then funny then awkward

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 4 December 2020]

In a small Welsh town, Annie Mary Pugh (Rachel Griffiths) is a peculiar spinster living with her father Jack Pugh (Jonathan Pryce) and working at his bakery. She had abandoned her singing dreams to care for her dying mother. Her friends Hob (Ioan Gruffudd) and Nob (Matthew Rhys) are trying to be a singing group. The town is trying to raise funds for her sick friend Bethan Bevan's trip to Disneyland. Her father blasts opera from his bread truck while he's wearing a Pavarotti mask. He suffers a stroke and she is forced to care for him. Only she doesn't want to.

It starts with plenty of quirkiness. It's small town weirdness for the first half although it's not that funny. After the stroke, the comedy starts to take off like an over-inflated balloon costume. It begins with the bread run. That whole section is one laugh after another. The stroke also seems to have unleashed Annie Mary as a character and as a comedic driver. She's more fun like that. Then it gets awkward. Annie Mary is a hard character to root for sometimes. She's frustrating. Overall, this is bumpy ride and at times, it's a fun ride.

Blown Away by Rachel Griffiths

[maclark-1 · 10/10 · 14 May 2006]

I was blown away by the range of emotion and expression shown by Rachel Griffiths in the movie, Very Annie Marie. I was not particularly impressed with her acting in the HBO series, Six Feet Under, but now I realize she is unable to use her talents to the full extent that she did in Very Annie Marie. I have a new sense of respect for her. In this movie, I found her to be a brilliant actress who is absolutely captivating and her delivery and comic timing are superb. Knowing that she is a native of Australia, I was completely convinced by her portrayal of a Welsh woman. This movie reminds me of the sweet humor and warmth of the movie, Calendar Girls, in that it portrays colorful characters who are believable and not just Hollywood stereotypes. Rachel is a bright spark that brings life and a sense of joy to the movie. I would like to know if she was actually singing the aria. If not, I was completely convinced that she was. I have not previously written a review but was so impressed with Rachel's performance that I had to this time.

Very... Welsh

[The_Triad · 6/10 · 23 May 2006]

Very Annie Mary is a film that focuses on the character of the same name that lives in a small welsh village. She is the archetypal "a bit slow" character with her father (an excellent turn from Johnathan Pryce) being the village big shot, a popular baker and the most celebrated tenor in Wales. Annie Mary's friend is dying and the whole village is taking part in charitable events to get her to Disneyland. If you like the sound of this already, then this film should appeal to you. There's a fine amount of comedy and tragedy as this character struggles to cope with the obstacles thrown her way and get what she wants. Personally, I found it lacking something that I'd got from other similar films and I found the main character just a little too far to handle. However the film got a couple of genuine laughs out of me and was worth watching for Jonathan Pryce's performance alone.

So cowing predictable mun!

[stu-626-323623 · 1/10 · 7 March 2013]

This film gathers together just about every contemporary Welsh actor, with the exception of Antony Hopkins and Michael Sheen (who probably have better agents?) and just about every cliché of 'life in the valleys'. The only thing that missing is the sheep sh******! Welsh tenors, chapels, bread (of heaven), the only gays in the village, 33 yr old virgins, fish and chips and cross dressing performers. Cerys Matthews had the good sense to be missing after her first scene. Even Mary Hopkin was thrown in for good measure. One reviewer mentioned Dylan Thomas in the same breath -turn in his grave he would! Rachel Griffiths is probably acting her socks off but she shouldn't have wasted her time. If you want a good Welsh feel-good comedy 'Hunky Dory' is a better bet.

A funny and heartwarming welsh(ish) comedy

[HufflepuffGB · 9/10 · 4 June 2001]

I knew the film was going to be funny after watching the trailer, but now that I have seen it I can honestly say it is better than I had expected. Even Jonathan Pryce's dodgey welsh accent can not hinder the enjoyment of this movie. Many laughs, a few tear-jerking moments, but all in all a really worthwile movie.

Very Annie Mary: Not Quite What Was Expected

[Tetch · 6/10 · 1 August 2005]

Very Annie Mary was not quite the film that I had expected from reading the synopsis on the DVD jacket. While it is along the same vein as Billy Elliot and Little Voice it is not quite the same quality as either of those films. However saying that it does have some high points as well. The characters are believable (for the most part), and often manage to make you smile, laugh or become totally frustrated. Unfortunately, the attitudes and behaviours of a few characters go on for overly long, and it made me feel like saying, "Yes, thank you, I get the point. He's a jerk, now what happens?" That was a bit trying at times.

As a whole the movie moves extremely slowly, and in my opinion, the events that happened towards the end were held off for entirely too long trying to draw the story out. There were several parts in the film that were of the "Right, keep going, get on with it!" type because it was actually dragging along and trying to build too much and give too much in-depth on events that didn't need it, but there were other parts in the film that were absolutely delightful. I adore the singing that is typically found in all Welsh related films, this was an absolute highlight and managed to make me smile. I also thought that Rachel Griffiths did a very good job as Annie Mary. She even managed to make me laugh out loud a few times. The characters who owned the little shop, I believe their names were Hob and Nob, cracked me up, and really helped this film in a few of the slower parts.

The saving grace of Very Annie Mary is the ending which is actually quite touching and well done. As I mention, it simply took over-long to reach that stage.

It is definitely not "the worst" movie you could watch, and was not a total waste of time. But it wasn't superb, or as well written as I'd expected. I'd honestly have to say it's quite an average feel good sort of movie when you take the good aspects with the bad.

6 out of 10 for me...

Dreadful

[preppy-3 · 1/10 · 1 April 2002]

!!! SPOILERS!!!

Supposed comedy musical about a pathetic young woman (Rachel Griffiths) ruled by her monster of a father (Johnathan Pryce). Then her father has a stroke and she learns how to become strong and self-sufficient.

This is one of those films that takes place in an impossibly small town in Wales, is peopled by "lovable" eccentric characters (including the obligatory gay couple) and has a saintly young girl who has to die so the main character can find herself.

The plot is old and depressing; the comedy is either cruel or unfunny; the songs are sparse and badly done and the Welsh accents render most of the dialogue incomprehensible (this film NEEDS subtitles!). Boring, predictable, depressing. Why is this film getting so much acclaim? AVOID!

Although billed as a musical comedy there's so much more to the second film from emerging writer/director Sara Sugarman.

[Chris_Gardner · 29 May 2003]

Very Annie-Mary (M), now showing at The Regent Theatre in Te Awamutu, is not only packed with laughs but takes the audience on a roller coaster ride of human emotions. Inspiring feelings of amusement, hope and joy the film also has moments of utter clarity, deepest despair and complete regret - it's guaranteed to break your heart before restoring your faith in humanity. Thirty-year-old Annie-Mary, played by Six Foot Under star Rachel Griffiths, has never left her Ogw home in the Welsh valleys and is under the thumb of her father. The dizzy girl, who won a prestigious Welsh singing competition in her teens, still dresses as though she were 16, secretly smokes and cannot cook – quite an irony as she works for her father. She secretly dreams of leaving home and setting up with her best friend, the terminally ill Bethan Bevan (Joanna Page), who is half her age, as well as marrying Colin Thomas (Rhys Miles Thomas), a candidate for the Baptist ministry and the only man in the valley under 60. When her music-loving father Jack Pugh (Jonathan Pryce) suffers a stroke during a charity recital Annie-Mary is forced to grow up and take on some responsibility – the only problem is she has no idea about life in the real world, keeping her money in a piggy bank. She's so clumsy that she walks into doors. The film delivers a believable portrayal of life in a Welsh village, something a frequent visitor to Wales like me is qualified to say. Hornblower star Ioan Gruffudd goes back to his Welsh roots to make an appearance as gay confectioner Hob while former Hi-de-hi star Ruth Maddoc plays Pugh's love interest, Mrs Ifans. While the film contains some sex scenes, which are far from graphic, there is also a smattering of offensive language. This aside, Very Annie-Mary is one of those films that sees you leaving the cinema riding on a cloud. The music is just great too.

funny and moving, beautifully acted

[anonReigate · 10/10 · 14 May 2002]

Set in a small Welsh village, this film is a gentle expose of small-town politics. Slowly, Annie Mary escapes from the tyranny of her father to make a life for herself. There are some moments of comic genius, superbly handled by Rachel Griffiths who somehow always manages to make the character of Annie-Mary credible and touching. The gay sweet shop owners and the pop group 'Hinge, Minge, Twinge and Bracket' are delightful diversions, while the terminally ill Bethan Bevan provides pathos as well as resolution for the character of Annie-Mary. A wonderful, eccentric, film.

A Welsh Winner

[mkorshak · 10/10 · 31 May 2006]

Just watched this film on Sundance channel, because I saw Rachel Griffith was listed as an actor. I'm a great admirer of Rachel Griffith, starting with Hilary and Jackie, then the TV series, Six Feet Under. Rachel Griffith's work in this film, frankly, blew me away! (and of course, the exquisite "Muriel's Wedding.") She is a magnificent actor, totally into the role of Annie Mary. It took me about 20 minutes to convince myself that "Annie Mary" was indeed Rachel Griffith, she was that into the character. It's hard to believe this film is now over 5 years old. It's timeless! I did find the Welsh accent hard to understand, at points, but would be willing to see the film again to listen more carefully. Some of the plot intricacies escaped me, probably because I was watching a TV screen, not a large cinema presentation. I'm still in the dark about an important plot development in the closing part of the film, but that didn't affect the overall impact. Also, one loses a lot on a TV presentation because the credits are largely unreadable.

very annie mary

[mossgrymk · 5/10 · 24 December 2020]

The overly cute title says it all; a soppy, gloppy, sentimental movie set in Wales, so everyone has to sing, natch, and have charming eccentricities, to boot. If I cannot tolerate this kind of rural suck up stuff in "The Waltons" I'm definitely not going to abide it in a country whose most notable denizen is Tom Jones. Solid C

Quirky and delightful

[neithernor2000 · 9/10 · 24 June 2006]

You would think a movie featuring an inflatable Pavarotti impersonator, a seventy-year old woman in a Tina Turner costume belting out "What's Love Got To Do With It" and a scratch and sniff bible goes over the top with loud humor. That is not the case with VERY ANNIE MARY. It is a small film, quirky, tender, and funny in a mostly quiet way. Rachel Griffiths is excellent as a homely girl with a tyrant of a father who dresses her in her grandmother's clothes. The Scottish town they live in is determined to raise enough money to send a terminally ill teenager to Disneyland. I won't tell you anything more about it other than to rent the DVD or look for it on the Independent Film channel. You'll be very glad you did.

take a friend & get them to tell you when Ioan Gruffudd is on, so you can open your eyes

[trilobee · 3/10 · 24 October 2002]

Minor spoilers.

"Very Annie Mary" giveth with one hand and taketh away with the other. It has some hilarious vignettes and the acting of Rachel Griffiths, who is always a joy to watch, is often inspired. I can forgive this film a a lot for the chance to see Ioan Gruffudd performing, with camp deliciousness, 'Annie Get Your Gun'.

But we're never sure whether we should be crying with Annie Mary, laughing with her, or laughing at her. As scripted, she seems almost simple minded; many of the film's moments of humiliation that she endures are purely her own fault. The story lurches from parody of the crudest sort - the cheap laughs got from the pop group - to pathos and tragedy, with very few ropes to guide the viewer across the ravines. Most crucially, the key device of the film, Annie Mary's voice, fails to convince - a comment made by my friend, and she liked the film.

There should be more good Welsh films. Sadly, this ain't one of them.

The Best movie made in Wales about Wales EVER

[robert okeefe · 27 September 2001]

Right first things first, one of the other reviews critisizes Jonathan Pryce's Welsh accent, I take offence at this especially since Jonathan Pryce IS WELSH!

Next thing this review contains some ******SEMI-SPOILERS******

This movie is set in a fictional Welsh village, where a daughter Annie Mary lives with her domeniering father, she is a typical "klutz", but with a heart of gold. Annie once won an Eisteddfod but has "lost" her voice. Her best friend is terminally ill, and she is trying to find herself. I won't spoil it by relating specific sections but watch out for the cafe owners, the minister and his sandwiches and the Contest.

This is a VERY funny and moving film, that had me crying at different points for different reasons, laughter and sadness. It really catches the Welshness of my country. There have been other good movies set in Wales but none as good as this. I enjoyed "The Englshman who went up a hill and came down a mountain" but that was a stylised Hollywood version of Wales. This is the way Welsh people are.

Hire this movie, You'll enjoy it, and if you don't then you didn't get it. So watch it again until you do!

The cast were brilliant, although seeing one of the character's who own the Station Cafe may cause a few ladies to cry into their hankies as you see one of the new generation of hearthrobs Ioan Gryffydd playing a .... well basically a "queen" and very good at it he is too. Special mention after my introduction should go to the leading lady Rachel Griffiths as this actress an Australian has a brilliant Welsh accent.

excellent

[kirsty_chick_ere2k5 · 10/10 · 4 August 2005]

I'm not just saying it was excellent because my dad Darren Dobbs was in it its because it was a great film i really enjoyed watching it and IOWN was in it and he is one of my favourite actors he has been in loads of films i love Hornblower titanic and very Annie Mary!! I hope sum one reads this soon and gets back in touch with me i would so love 2 meet with IOWN he is one of my favorite actors encluding Chris Evans who was also in fantastic 4 with IOWN. It would be a plesure to meet with him and my dad has already met IOWN backstage of very Annie Mary.I loved ere body's acting in the film they all performed very well lots of love Kirsty xxx

A touching and heart-warming take on life in the Rhondda Valley, south Wales

[victoriasponge · 10/10 · 16 February 2001]

Great performance by the Australian actress Rachel Griffiths. A touching and heart warming film about a young girl's life in the Rhondda Valley, south Wales and her aspirations of becoming an opera singer. Also, watch out for Meriel Andrew, who provides the female vocal voice for the film.

Watch at own peril

[sophie-bridge · 1/10 · 30 November 2006]

One evening in search of a light-hearted comedy, the afore mentioned film was put into an unsuspecting DVD player.

After a laugh???

This movie is more likely to make you: cry, fall asleep, moan in agony, gorge out your eyes, or throw bottles at the TV.

It had a promising start, but 10 minutes into this film you realize that you have turned down a treacherous path and if you wish to come out alive it is best to turn around and not venture further into the empty and painful experience that is this movie.

The misfortunes of Annie Mary and her Father, are not a form of entertainment. It is a poor and unwitty attempt at humour, expressed with serious overtones, that make the film really only suitable for sadists.

If you want a laugh, this film is a pass.

very very good Annie Mary

[selffamily · 9/10 · 2 September 2007]

I have seen this before, and it has been calling me to watch it again. I sat down today and floated through it - maybe you miss bits the first time - I know I enjoyed it today more than ever. I grew up with Welsh family, visits to the valleys, and loved them. This does not disrespect any of that, but gently take the Mick as you do with loved family members. It's a funny film and a touching film and in parts when she's being really stupid or trying to impress, cringe-making, but then it all comes right at the end. Quirky, oddball and unusual of course those words spring to mind, but the singing is sublime (dubbed?) and the Welsh scenery is of course beautiful. The cast are amazing and the conversation is natural - people behaving as they do. thanks for a very enjoyable couple of hours!