A married, middle-aged woman is shocked to discover that her husband, who she thought was content in their marriage, has become infatuated with a beautiful younger woman and is planning to leave his family for her.
Hard and uncompromising, yet charged with sad fellow-feeling regarding the lies that we tell ourselves and the compromises we make, this is elegant, adult cinema with a fierce emotional punch.
A very worthy rediscovery.
It’s utterly compelling, both as a historical document and as heartbreakingly plausible drama.
An unmissable rerelease.
With its references to "groovy" Chris Barber music, Woman in a Dressing Gown has an arch, self-conscious air. Nonetheless, as a study of a marriage coming apart, it works surprisingly well.
A film that deserves to be better known and a welcome reminder of what a fine actress the late Yvonne Mitchell was.
Mitchell is quietly magnificent as the woman not so much on the edge of a nervous breakdown as standing in the middle of a full-blown meltdown, trying to hold on to her dignity, her man and her sanity. A heartbreaker.
Edinburgh Filmhouse, Edinburgh from Friday August 31, 2012, until Thursday September 6, 2012. More info: www.filmhousecinema.com
Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow from Tuesday September 4, 2012, until Wednesday September 5, 2012. More info: http://www.glasgowfilm.org/theatre/