It's an initial project from Mike Leigh, someone whose work I appreciate considerably; it appeared as part of a BBC television film series. I have to praise the performances throughout the entire cast. Brenda Blethyn and Lesley Manville were both outstanding, just as I would anticipate from them in their subsequent roles. And Phil Davis must have been very good too, because I really didn’t like his character, and it occurred to me afterward that I've found much of his later work enjoyable. As is typical with Mike Leigh’s portrayals of family life, the narrative develops toward an emotional turning point before easing into a somewhat better situation afterward. This one didn’t resonate with me as strongly as some of his other films; it seemed to lack substance. There's quite a bit of everyday conversation about what life is like for people who don’t have much money. The only social theme that held potential was the suggestion of mistreatment in the two sisters' childhood home, which Mandy avoided by marrying (though to someone difficult) and left her sister Gloria to handle their father on her own. Even so, it's certainly worth seeing, and could be a decent introduction for those unfamiliar with Mike Leigh’s films.

Source on TMDB