Common bleak extracted from the scales of the common bleak, so-called "Essence Orientale" or "pearl essence", (used in making artificial pearls) which is crystalline guanine. Common bleak The common bleak ("Alburnus alburnus") is a small freshwater coarse fish of the cyprinid family. The body of the bleak is elongated and flat. The head is pointed and the relatively small mouth is turned upwards. The anal fin is long and has 18 to 23 fin rays. The lateral line is complete. The bleak has a shiny silvery colour; and the fins are pointed and colourless. The maximum length is approximately 25 cm. In
Bleak Moments Pictures, 2008, 2015), and as part of "The Mike Leigh Film Collection" box set (Spirit Entertainment Ltd, 2008). It has also seen US release by Water Bearer Films, Inc. on VHS (1998), DVD (2004), and in their "Mike Leigh Collection, Vol. 2" box set (2004). Bleak Moments Bleak Moments is a 1971 British film, the first film of Mike Leigh. It began as a 75-minute stage play in March 1970 at the Open Space Theatre. Leigh and Les Blair had formed their own company, Autumn Productions, and Leigh wanted to make a film of "Bleak Moments." He was able to