Mike Leigh’s third feature, which opened in 1990, remains one of the celebrated director’s most admired and affecting films.
Life is Sweet depicts a summer in the life of a modern working-class family surviving in Thatcher’s Britain. This Dual Format Edition also contains the previously unreleased comedy short A Running Jump (2012) and a raft of special features unreleased in the UK, including a newly filmed interview with Jane Horrocks and an audio commentary by Mike Leigh.
Andy (Jim Broadbent) is a professional chef and DIY enthusiast who buys a decrepit burger van. His wife Wendy (Alison Steadman) helps out with the launch of a Parisian-themed restaurant, The Regret Rien. One daughter, Nicola (Jane Horrocks), suffers from bulimia and is obsessed with men and Marxism, while the other, Natalie (Claire Skinner), is an apprentice plumber who dreams of escaping to America.
This hilarious yet tragic domestic portrait features a dazzling ensemble performance and remains a potent, true-to-life story.
Extras
Presented in High Definition and Standard Definition
A Running Jump (2012, 36 mins): a sports-infused comedy short starring Eddie Marsan, produced as part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad
An Interview with Jane Horrocks (2017, 14 mins): a newly filmed discussion with the acclaimed actress
Audio commentary with Mike Leigh
The Guardian Lecture: Mike Leigh in Conversation with Derek Malcolm (62 mins, audio only)
Original trailer
Stills gallery
Illustrated booklet with new writing by Ashley Clark and Will Massa, an original review and full credits
