An old story of course but this one has some interesting wrinkles: the wife is left caring for the husband's elderly mother and aunt. How does that happen? Well, because the wife is the nicest of nice people - which is what makes this film frustrating at times - that she never really tells him he can take his whole family with him.

Brenda Blethyn is terrific in this role, sympathetic, charitable, caregiving, loving. As someone says, she is a true saint. Rosemary Harris is stellar in her role as the cantankerous matriarch. Not a happy ending, not a sad ending, just a real one.

Highly recommended for Brenda Blethyn fans!

Yet another excellent performance from Brenda Blethyn, who seems to excel in playing this type of character. But the limelight in this case has to be shared with Rosemary Harris, playing the mother-in-law, who has some excellent lines and delivers them well. Both turn in top quality performances. Many good, well known British actors in the supporting cast also add to the overall effect, including Kevin Whately, who devotees of the British TV show Inspector Morse will know as Sgt. Lewis. Here he is much and does a good job of playing the errant husband. It was an interest contrast to watching him just the previous evening in the first ever Morse, made 17 years earlier.

The plot is simple: what happens when a middle-aged husband leaves his wife for a younger woman. But the result is not exactly predictable, or perhaps to be more exact where Brenda Blethyn movies are concerned, it is predictable that things will not turn out exactly as they would in a more stereotypical tale. No spoilers given. If you enjoyed other of her movies you are certain to enjoy this one.

It turned up on TV (True Movies) and, having nothing better to do, I slumped in front of it, expecting something trite. But it's an excellent film (about the usual things: power, money, sex, human frailty, etc.) and very watchable. Can't imagine why it wasn't released in the cinema, when so many vastly inferior films are. Possibly because of the awful title? Or the slightly embarrassing final shrug in the direction of 'the patriarchy'? No - it must have been something much more complicated. Anyway, other earnest seekers after wisdom about the human condition can apparently download it for free. Whoopee! Heartily recommend they do.