Peter's Friends

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Star(s): Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry, Kenneth Branagh, Imelda Staunton, Alphonsia Emmanuel, Rita Rudner, Hugh Laurie and Tony Slattery
Date: 1993
Themes: Friendship, relationships and humour

This British film, released in 1992, was directed by it's star, Kenneth Brannagh. Rita Rudner, who plays Brannagh's wife in the film, also wrote the script. Filmed in picturesque country house and with a stunning British cast, this film has all the makings of a classic Brit-flick.

After the death of his father, Peter (Fry) inherits a vast estate, and decides to invite his old friends from university to stay with him over the New Year. What Peter doesn't realise is that each of his friends has a problem that will take centre-stand during some part of the gathering.
First there's Roger (Laurie) and Mary (Staunton).The jingle writing duo's marriage is in dire straites after the death of one of their twin babies. Mary is obsessively over-protective of her only child, which infuriates Roger to a state of despair. Maggie (Thompson) is a lonely publisher, whose boyfriend, an author of self-help books, attempted suicide by jumping off a three storey building. He would have survived - if a lorry hadn't run him over. Now the only company sex-starved Maggie has is from her cat, Michael. Sarah (Emmanuel) can only be described as a fuck monster. She quickly ditches her latest bit of fluff Brian(Slattery) after he leaves his wife. And which two other men from the gathering has she fucked? And then there's Andrew (Brannagh) and his gahstly American wife Carol (Rudner). He's been in America for the past six years, writing a soap in which his wife stars, and attending AA meetings. He too has been having marriage problems, and returns to the demon drink when Carol returns to America alone to do a film after Shelley Long pulled out last minute. Will they overcome their problems? And will Peter reveal his secret?

This film, although relatively unknown, is well worth watching. The cast is superb, and English-rose-Emma shines as the down-trodden Maggie, and Stephen Fry is well-cast as lord of the manor. The sound track, featuring Nina Simone, Tears for Fears, Queen and The Pretenders, emphasizes the tremendous quality of the film. If this film doesn't make you feel proud to be British, then you should immigrate to Botswana.

Best Line: "Just take the fucking presents!"

Review by Emily Edwards (phil@colwyn18623.freeserve.co.uk)