Mike Leigh began his career as one of Britain's most interesting directors with this realistic drama about a woman looking for respite from an unsatisfying life. Sylvia (Anne Raitt) is a slightly overweight woman who works as a secretary and hasn't had much luck in romance. She shares her home with her retarded sister, whom she looks after, and has been dating Peter (Eric Allen), a schoolteacher whom she hopes will ask her to marry him. However, one evening they have a date that doesn't go especially well, and Sylvia discovers that Peter is impotent; he breaks up with her shortly afterward. The only other interesting relationship in her life is with Norman (Mike Bradwell), a hippie who rents out Sylvia's garage as a workspace for his underground newspaper and plays songs on his guitar for her sister. Bleak Moments was adapted from a play written by Leigh; as is his habit, the story was created in collaboration with the actors who originated the roles. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Brimming with the edgy realism and quirky with Leigh has become known for, BLEAK MOMENTS follows Sylvia (Anne Raitt) a bored numb secretary, as she desperately seeks release from the pressure of caring for her 29 year old mentally ill sister (Sarah Stephenson). Sylvia seeks distraction first in an awkward flirtation with a quiet schoolteacher (Eric Allan) and then with the tenant living in her garage, a disheveled, guitar playing, hippie (Mike Bradwell). Shrewdly observed and brilliantly understated BLEAK MOMENTS is a rare early work from one of England's greatest film makers.