AS THE title might suggest, this well-directed drama from Mike Leigh takes place over the course of a year.

It features middle-aged couple Tom and Gerri as they typify suburbia – nice jobs, a nice home and an allotment.

Tom and Gerri are often visited by Gerri’s single friend Mary (Lesley Manville) who has a taste for the bottle to cover up her loneliness, and Tom’s best friend Ken, who’s just as lonely and who they hope will hit it off with Mary.

Unfortunately for Tom and Gerri, Mary develops a crush on their 30-year old son (Oliver Maltman), and when he brings his new girlfriend (Karina Fernandez) home to meet them, all does not go well.

As far as the story goes, well, that’s more or less it, but Mike Leigh manages to put together powerful scenes that tell the character’s stories without actually requiring that much in the way of plot. Lesley Manville delivers an impressive – and at times, heartbreaking - performance as lonely Mary in a role that’s sure to see her nominated for a BAFTA and support from Sheen and Broadbent is, as always, strong.

On the other hand, despite the memorable performances, the characters do cross the line into box ticking from time to time: while the story is thoroughly depressing, Tom and Gerri are incessantly cheerful and at times, you find yourself desperately wishing for them to even acknowledge the problems of their friend.

That said, Another Year is familiar fodder for Mike Leigh fans and is worth a look purely for the fine cast and for Lesley Manville’s excellent performance.