BRITISH CINEMA. “Restless.” / “Housewife, 49.”

“Restless” (2024, Amazon Prime) British thriller dark comedy. A mild-mannered care worker's peaceful existence is disturbed when an intimidating party animal moves into the house next door, a property that her parents inhabited for decades before their recent passing. 

       This movie had a simple or not-so-unusual plotline. But from sequence 1 to the end, I am glued. The major reason? Lyndsey Marshal. She won Best Actress at the Manchester Film Festival for her performance; the movie, Best UK Feature Film.

       As Nicky, who is tormented no end by her next-door neighbor, Ms Marshal is a sight to watch. I got so engaged and involved in her character's sad situation that I wanted to confront the asshole myself! 

       And this urgent reminder or warning to one and all: Piss someone off all you want. But you don’t mess with their cat or dog! They’ll go John Wick or Nicky on you! Fosho! 🎥👍📽

“Housewife, 49” (2006, Amazon Prime) British drama based on the wartime diaries of Nella Last. The experiences of an ordinary housewife and mother in the northern English town of Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire, during the Second World War. 

       Apart from other awards elsewhere, this film won two British Academy Television Awards in 2007: "Best Single Drama" and "Best Actress" for Victoria Wood for her portrayal of Nella Last.

       No argument per Ms Wood's performance, subtly articulate and “quietly” endearing, but the movie itself isn't so interesting to me although I easily get the overlying message. A good companion watch is the lengthy series “Call the Midwife,” which accentuates pretty much the same plot point but is more entertaining. 🎥💻📽