Meantime (1983)

In the gritty, heart-wrenching landscape of London's East End projects, the struggling Pollock family scrapes by on the dole, their lives a poignant portrait of stagnation and despair. The household is dominated by adult brothers Mark and Colin, who still share the cramped apartment with their parents, Frank and Mavis. Mark, the more cunning of the two, cloaks himself in sarcasm and rebellion, while Colin, a man of emotional simplicity, navigates the world at a slower pace. Their lives are punctuated by the presence of their boisterous companions, including the volatile skinhead Coxy, and the sweet-natured Hayley, a neighborhood girl who harbors a gentle affection for Colin. Despite the bleakness of their existence, the Pollocks are contrasted starkly against Mavis' affluent sister Barbara and her husband John, who lead a seemingly idyllic life amid the comfortable suburbs of Chigwell. When Barbara, driven by a sense of familial duty, bestows upon Colin an unexpected job, the equilibrium of the Pollock family is tipped, unearthing a plethora of concealed issues. The ensuing chaos tests the limits of their relationships, while also subtly questioning the legitimacy of Barbara and John's so-called perfect life. In this upheaval, the film explores the profound impact of the dole on Britain's underclass, the joy and pain of kinship, and the search for happiness in an often unkind world. "Meantime" is an intriguing, hard-hitting exploration of class disparity, familial bonds and the struggle for personal fulfillment, all set against the backdrop of an economically distressed Britain.

Meantime is a comedy movie featuring Phil Daniels.

Meantime is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.

It is also possible to buy Meantime on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Vudu and YouTube.