the mother be that extraordinary piece of film make it get you think and it pull no punch and ultimately it leave you think . very much open end a to the lead character fate . anne reid ( which i only knew briefly from her appearance in some victoria wood lead project and think a fine comedienne ) be truly superb here . not the stereotypical widow housewife that be perfect in marriage and motherhood at all . and not all that free spirit and adventurous at first . she play her character just with the right note that ring true ( well and it do to me ) . powerful cast . great script . renaissance of european cinema indeed while ) .