this be typical late mike leigh a portrait of people so burden by poverty and listlessness they have become cruel almost despite their notice represent cruelty be the only way they seem to know how to interact with one another . this make the film difficult to watch and and unpleasant and but as usual in leigh film and the acting be superb and with many leigh regular show up . ruth sheen give a marvelous performance and a usual and a a single mother neighbor who seem to be a little bit of ahead of everyone else and and her no nonsense kindness and empathy leaven the movie general despair . finally and something very human and touching be achieve . one just have to sit through two hour of sad nastiness to get there .