Happy Birthday Mike Leigh 81 Today!
Mike Leigh OBE FRSL was born on the 20th of February 1943 in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England.
He is an English writer and director who has worked in Theater, Television & Film.
He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), the Camberwell School of Art, the Central School of Art and Design and the London School of Film Technique.
Leigh is known for making raw dramatic films using the filmmaking process that he has developed over many years influenced by his background in improvisational theatre.
It is hard to explain Leigh’s process but he workshops with his actors and develops their characters with them without a script, letting them go away and research and think about the person they are playing. then the actors improvise scenes as their characters and that is where the dialogue for the project is generated that is what Leigh refers to as “The discovery process” Then from those sessions, a script is written and from there a more conventional production process takes place with costume and locations and planning scenes and shots. When the actors arrive on set they have a script but it is what came from the process these actors are not improvising on camera they are playing these fleshed-out, three-dimensional characters that are working from a written script that those actors created while in character. This is what makes his films feel so raw and believable.
In the mid-60s Leigh worked at the Midlands Art Centre in Birmingham as resident assistant director and started to experiment with the idea that writing and rehearsing could be part of the same process. In the late 60s after Birmingham Leigh worked as an assistant director with the Royal Shakespeare Company on productions of Macbeth, Coriolanus, and The Taming of the Shrew.
He continued to work on and hone his improvised theatre projects with a group of professional actors called the "North East New Arts Association" In 1970, Leigh wrote, "I saw that we must start off with a collection of totally unrelated characters (each one the specific creation of its actor) and then go through a process in which I must cause them to meet each other, and build a network of real relationships; the play would be drawn from the results."
Between 1971 and 1983 Leigh made nine television plays and two films for television for the BBC. Plays such as “Nuts in May” and “Abigail's Party” are bleak satires of middle-class values and attitudes. But Leigh’s plays were generally more biting trying to show the banality of British society. Throughout the process of making these productions for TV Leigh became frustrated with flaws in the production due to time frame and budget restrictions, particularly around the lighting, this led Leigh to dedicate himself to making theatrical films.
And that is what he did. To date, he has created and directed 12 feature films developed using his process.
“High Hopes” (1988)
Directed by Mike Leigh, Written by Mike Leigh, Produced by Victor Glynn & Simon Channing-Williams, Music by Andrew Dickson, Cinematography Roger Pratt, Edited by Jon Gregory. Starring Philip Davis, Ruth Sheen & Lesley Manville.
An old London widow's daughter is a yuppie, but her son and his girlfriend are Marxists.
“Life Is Sweet” (1990)
Directed by Mike Leigh, Written by Mike Leigh, Produced by Simon Channing Williams, Music by Rachel Portma, Cinematography Dick Pope, Edited by Jon Gregory, Starring Alison Steadman, Jim Broadbent, Timothy Spall, Claire Skinner, Jane Horrocks, David Thewlis, Moya Brady & Stephen Rea.
The working-class malaise of suburban London is captured in this comedic drama, which focuses on twin sisters Natalie and Nicola and their parents: easygoing Andy and his optimistic wife, Wendy. While Natalie has a plumbing job, and tends to take after her mom with her bright outlook, Nicola is on the dole and perpetually dwells on the negative. Will the cloud over Nicola's head ever lift?
“Naked” (1993)
Directed by Mike Leigh, Written by Mike Leigh, Produced by Simon Channing Williams, Music by Andrew Dickson, Cinematography Dick Pope, Edited by Jon Gregory, Starring David Thewlis, Katrin Cartlidge, Lesley Sharp.
An unemployed Mancunian vents his rage on unsuspecting strangers as he embarks on a nocturnal London odyssey.
“Secrets & Lies” (1996)
Directed by Mike Leigh, Written by Mike Leigh, Produced by Simon Channing Williams, Music by Andrew Dickson, Cinematography Dick Pope, Edited by Jon Gregory, Starring Timothy Spall, Brenda Blethyn, Phyllis Logan, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Claire Rushbrook, Ron Cook, Lesley Manville, Elizabeth Berrington, Michele Austin, Lee Ross, Emma Amos, Hannah Davis.
After her adoptive mother dies, Hortense, a successful black Ophthalmologist, seeks out her birth mother. She's shocked when her research leads her to a working-class white woman, Cynthia. At first Cynthia denies the claim, but she eventually admits to birthing Hortense as a teenager, and the two begin to bond. However, when Cynthia invites Hortense to a family barbecue, Cynthia's already tense relationship with her family becomes even more complicated.
“Career Girls” (1997)
Directed by Mike Leigh, Written by Mike Leigh, Produced by Simon Channing Williams, Music by Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Cinematography Dick Pope, Edited by Robin Sales, Starring Katrin Cartlidge, Lynda Steadman, Mark Benton, Kate Byers, Andy Serkis, Joe Tucker, Tony Remy.
Annie is meeting up with her old college pal Hannah for the first time since they graduated six years ago. They bonded in school, despite their differences; now they've become more mature and put their old problems behind them… or so they think. Once they reunite, Annie realizes that she hasn't fully overcome her past anxieties, while Hannah learns that she is still too insensitive to the feelings of others. Both women hope to make changes.
“Topsy-Turvy” (1999)
Directed by Mike Leigh, Written by Mike Leigh, Produced by Simon Channing Williams, Music by Sir Arthur Sullivan, W. S. Gilbert & Carl Davis, Cinematography Dick Pope, Edited by Robin Sales, Starring Jim Broadbent, Allan Corduner, Timothy Spall, Lesley Manville, Ron Cook.
A witty and entertaining dramatisation of the story of the famous partnership between lyricist William Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan. With a wealth of authentic Victorian detail, this account of the lives of the musical duo concentrates on the good-natured antagonism between the two creative geniuses, focusing on the turning point on their road to fame and riches - the production of `The Mikado'.
“All or Nothing” (2002)
Directed by Mike Leigh, Written by Mike Leigh, Produced by Simon Channing Williams, Music by Andrew Dickson, Cinematography Dick Pope, Edited by Lesley Walker, Starring Timothy Spall & Lesley Manville.
Penny's love for her partner, taxi driver Phil, has run dry. He is a philosophical guy, and she works at a checkout at a supermarket. Their daughter Rachel cleans in a home for elderly people, and their son Rory is unemployed and aggressive. The joy has gone out of Phil's and Penny's life, but when an unexpected tragedy occurs, they are brought together to rediscover their love.
“Vera Drake” (2004)
Directed by Mike Leigh, Written by Mike Leigh, Produced by Simon Channing Williams, Music by Andrew Dickson, Cinematography Dick Pope, Edited by Jim Clark, Starring Imelda Staunton, Eddie Marsan, Daniel Mays, Phil Davis.
In 1950s England, housekeeper Vera Drake is a kindly wife and mother who offers selfless devotion and unwavering care to her family, which includes her husband and two grown children. However, unknown to her friends and family, Drake provides abortions to local women with unwanted pregnancies. When the authorities learn of her illegal activities, Drake loses the admiration of many around her -- and possibly her freedom.
“Happy-Go-Lucky” (2008)
Directed by Mike Leigh, Written by Mike Leigh, Produced by Simon Channing Williams, Music by Gary Yershon, Cinematography Dick Pope, Edited by Jim Clark, Starring Sally Hawkins, Eddie Marsan, Alexis Zegerman, Sylvestra Le Touzel, Samuel Roukin.
Teacher Poppy Cross is an eternal optimist who lives with her more cynical friend Zoe Deciding she wants to learn to drive, she starts taking lessons from Scott, a tense and downbeat instructor who believes Poppy's levity reflects a lack of seriousness. Although they clash, Poppy is not deterred from her goal. Meanwhile, she starts dating Tim, a social worker who came to her school to help a child.
“Another Year” (2010)
Directed by Mike Leigh, Written by Mike Leigh, Produced by Georgina Lowe, Music by Gary Yershon, Cinematography Dick Pope, Edited by Jon Gregory, Starring Jim Broadbent, Lesley Manville and Ruth Sheen.
Tom and Gerri are an older couple who have been happily married for a long time, making them an anomaly among their friends and family members. Gerri's friend Mary is a single woman whose husband left her and who disguises her loneliness. Gerri tries to fix her up with another friend, Ken, but is taken aback when Mary is more interested in the couple's adult son, Joe a lawyer who is considerably younger than she is.
“Mr. Turner” (2014)
Directed by Mike Leigh, Written by Mike Leigh, Produced by Georgina Lowe, Music by Gary Yershon, Cinematography Dick Pope, Edited by Jon Gregory, Starring Timothy Spall, Dorothy Atkinson, Marion Bailey, Paul Jesson, Lesley Manville, Martin Savage.
Eccentric British painter J.M.W. Turner lives his last 25 years with gusto and secretly becomes involved with a seaside landlady, while his faithful housekeeper bears an unrequited love for him.
“Peterloo” (2018)
Directed by Mike Leigh, Written by Mike Leigh, Produced by Georgina Lowe, Music by Gary Yershon, Cinematography Dick Pope, Edited by Jon Gregory, Starring Maxine Peake, Rory Kinnear & Pearce Quigley.
In 1819, British forces charged on a peaceful pro-democracy rally at St Peter's Field in Manchester, England, which resulted in the Peterloo Massacre.
Mike Leigh’s films are all brilliant in their own way and do deliver this visceral dramatic experience with these authentic characters in believable situations. I have said before and I will again I do have a soft spot for “Slice of life” type drama things don’t have to be extraordinary or in space or have explosions sometimes I enjoy a good story in the real world with interesting characters. Leigh’s work is the evolution of the “kitchen sink” dramas I love from the ’50s and '60s highlighting real-life struggles of working-class people often overlooked or misrepresented in pre-war film.
Even with his historical dramas “Topsy-Turvy”, “Mr. Turner” & “Peterloo” you can tell the amount of work and research that goes into making the characters as authentic as possible as well as the period-correct costume and production design. Mike Leigh doesn’t half-ass anything.
He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1993
Leigh has been nominated for 7 Oscars, he won the Best Director award at Cannes for “Naked” in 1993, The Palme d'Or in 1996 for “Secrets & Lies” he also won the Leone d'Oro for Best Film at the International Venice Film Festival in 2004 with “Vera Drake”.
In 2002 he was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Essex.
Due to making films and television plays for over 50 years and seeking out great intelligent acting talent he has discovered and given great British actors a much-needed break including, Liz Smith, Alison Steadman, Brenda Blethyn, Antony Sher, Gary Oldman, Tim Roth, Jane Horrocks & David Thewlis.
I recommend watching
“Life Is Sweet” (1990)
You can rent this film on Amazon Prime for £2.49
Buy and keep this on Blu-ray for £14.99 from HMV
“Naked” (1993)
You can rent this film on Apple TV for £3.49 or BFI player for £3.50
Buy and keep this on Blu-ray for £7.99 from HMV
“Secrets & Lies” (1996)
Sadly this is not available online
Buy and keep this on Blu-ray as part of the criterion collection for £17.99 from HMV
“Topsy-Turvy” (1999)
Sadly this is not available online
Buy and keep this on Blu-ray as part of the criterion collection for £17.99 from HMV
“Happy-Go-Lucky” (2008)
You can rent this film on Amazon Prime for £2.49 or Apple TV for £3.49
Buy and keep this on DVD for £5.99 from HMV
