The Short & Curlies (1987)

This is a fairly light and airy film, and attracted me only because it was directed by Mike Leigh. It doesn’t have any of his signature emotional drama or climactic scenes, but rather it tells the simple story of an unlikely suitor slowly winning over his love interest. I say slowly because everything is relative, the film being merely 17 minutes long to begin with.

I suspect Leigh also didn’t employ his frequent technique of allowing the actors to ad lib, but he does use good actors, such as a very young Alison Steadman, whom I have enjoyed in many later roles. Ms. Le Touzel, who is less recognizable to me though I have seen her also in many productions, is subtle and gentle in her portrayal of Joy, the object of our comic hero’s love.

This is no masterpiece perhaps, but it does what it sets out to accomplish and tells a sweet little love story. If this is your first Mike Leigh film, start making a list of his other efforts, topped by his classic masterpiece (in my humble opinion, as the saying goes) Secrets and Lies. I envy you for watching them the first time.