The Party  ★★★½

Synopsis:

Janet (Kristin Scott Thomas) has just been appointed to a key ministerial position in the shadow cabinet – the crowning achievement of her political career. She and her husband Bill (Timothy Spall) plan to celebrate this with a few close friends. As the guests arrive at their home in London, the party takes an unexpected turn when Bill suddenly makes some explosive revelations that take everyone present by surprise. Love, friendships and political convictions are soon called into question in this hilarious comedy of tragic proportions.

Film Review:

To what a British comedy is, The Party is a film set on a single day. A day supposed to be the celebration of Janet’s ( Kristin Scott Thomas) appointment as a Minister in the new administration. The film is also in black and white, adding a more dramatic effect to this tragicomedy. As if there wasn’t enough humour and quirkiness already. Also there were times the movie felt so real, the anxiety and mental torture seemed unbearable to watch as the chaotic day felt endless.

For a moment, the film became all that matters to me- the dreading of what is to come, after all the confessions and betrayal. Kristin’s Party had been everything but about her, surrounded by friends who were present only to announce the significant events happening in their own lives. The aim is to gain attention for themselves and not really to share Kristin’s success with her career. There is one friend, who at the beginning appeared the coldest and most cynical of them all- April ( Patricia Clarkson) but turned out to be the only one who made sense and who did genuinely care for Kristin.

As a comedy film, The Party’s theatrical approach is a success regarding its delivery and aims to provide an entertaining dark British humour about life’s complexities. As well as a vivid observation of human behaviour and responses towards unpleasant events. What I think is the greatest impact the movie has given is the realisation that there are times in life, that things get out of hand and would feel like nothing is going right but in truth, nothing has ever been in anyone’s control in the first place.

In Cinemas: February 22, 2018

Rating: M Violence, offensive language & drug use