Wendy confronts Nicola ("Life is Sweet" by Mike Leigh, 1990)

Wendy finally cracks and loses that nervous laugh to tell Nicola a few home truths and break down the barriers that Nicola has put up between herself and the rest of the world.

[@jogreen9123]

Five of the best minutes in the history of British film making.

[@KKurt8892]

And film in general

[@simonlitton]

I've never forgotten the line "Dr. Harris told us you had two weeks to live", and Nicola's facial expression changing.

[@magrathean0]

That moment by Jane, Is some of the best acting I have ever seen

[@michaeligoe3935]

This is the most powerful scene in all of Mike Leigh's wonderful work. Sensational acting and so real. The poster has sublime taste.

[@David-mg1yj]

Two fantastic actresses, right at the top of their game.

[@michaelcarey299]

Wendy is beautiful and loves her daughter that's why she talks to her like that, some mothers never do because they don't care enough.

[@Lulustucru2393]

I kinda feel like Nicola for most of the time and it's almost a religious duty to watch this scene like once a month to feel less desperate and to give me motivation, Because I can be happy in this life ! Hope you all doing great, we can do our best !

[@Insult2inquiry]

[@marjtierney]

I hope life is a bit better for you now. Sending love x

[@Lulustucru2393]

@@marjtierney Way better actually ! Thanks and hope you're doing okay too

[@nnnna215]

@@Lulustucru2393 Its nice to see these types of comments. May I ask what changed in your life since you felt like Nicola?

[@deanc2000]

This scene touches me very very deeply. Thanks for posting.

[@simonboccanegra3811]

In a Mike Leigh film, a flawed or even silly person can, in a breathtaking scene, be revealed as the best mother, sister, brother, husband, father, child, or friend imaginable in that moment. And it unfolds like life. This is why he and his actors get away sometimes with "caricature." They know that looking ridiculous, not being able to see or hear yourself, is part of life too.

[@davidlrattigan]

Heartbreaking scene. It must be going on 15 or 16 years at least since I last saw this, but I can still pre-empt every line.

[@pgbear]

Thanks for sharing this. This one scene totally blew my mind when I saw this at the cinema in 1990. The emotion in this scene is off the scale. I was deeply moved by it as it touched a nerve in me, as it rang so true with how I felt myself. I genuinely never realised that there were films that could make you feel something so deeply, as all I had been used to seeing till then were relatively empty blockbusters. Mike Leigh opened up a whole world of cinema to me and I am forever grateful.

[@barbarapoulden9235]

I recommend a lot of "British short films" and some of them are by Mike Leigh

[@farzamrajabalizade4587]

@@barbarapoulden9235 plz name some if you can

[@Ketafilth]

i can't tell you enough how much i love mike leigh

[@alanholyhead522]

Alison Steadman is the greatest actor of all time genius xxxx

[@Gallo_1.6]

this is possibly my favourite scene of all movies. very very powerful. just brilliant. Love Steadman and Horrocks.

[@FilmQualia]

I think I've just decided that this is one of my favourite scenes of all time

[@Joanna7428]

Makes me cry every time 😥

[@devu1224]

This hits home for me. I see a lot of this dynamic within my own family and it's heartbreaking for many reasons. This scene, along with so many directed by Mike Leigh, is so beautifully written and acted

[@mfreeman313]

I saw this in the theater 30 years ago and then not again until tonight. And it was remarkable the scenes I remembered close to exactly, all these years. So I guess for this one film "unforgettable" didn't mean "I really liked it." It meant I went half my life remembering it as if it were a set of scenes from my own real life.

[@AllanKentFisher]

Great acting by Alison Steadman 💞

[@RollrightKnights]

Stunning. I was in floods of tears. So powerful.

[@harrybranches9586]

This is love. Wonderful parents that love unconditionally. And truly care about they're children..we need more of this. Too many young folks wandering the streets in drugs and mentally ill and they never felt true love from mum and dad. Great acting. Allison Stedman is perfect in this role. And I love this British English. I hope to God the Brits don't start talking like the Americans

[@aLtee]

I cant watch this scene without tearing up

[@liarcheckmate]

Thanks for posting. Just doesn't get any better than this. Genius acting. Genius direction.

[@CharlotteFallon-vb7po]

One of my all time favourite scenes. It gets me every time

[@patelien]

Hits home. Brilliant acting. Brilliant direction

[@tertiaritus]

This one scene has done more for troubled teens than all 4 seasons of 13 reasons why I reckon It definitely stopped me from kms when I was at the pinnacle of relapse 5 years ago binging movies that had a slither of ed in them and came across this

[@davidj.9587]

This argument must go on in one form or another when kids are 16 or so..great acting, great film

[@AdrianCastilloAl]

This scene made me a believer. Mike Leigh, what a director, Jesus Christ 🤩

[@bernhardplatzdasch408]

brilliant acting.

[@UBZUKki]

Great scene.I need to watch this film again...

[@genderrebeljo3051]

All time favourite film. Bloody brilliant

[@napalmslayer]

Absolutely fucking sublime

[@08CARIB]

Had to revisit this today, Alison Steadman is so great in this scene!

[@thomasjackson5204]

astonishing

[@andyth55]

Wonderful film, but this scene is just extraordinarily outstanding!

[@pensamisempre]

very touching..thanks..burst into tears finally

[@blueluny]

Brilliant all round.

[@matthewreed2614]

so much family pain in his films, secrets snd lies, all or nothing, vera drake in particular

[@CharlesUFarley778]

Great movie !

[@alanholyhead522]

Brilliant brilliant brilliant. Is there a better actress on god's great earth than Alison Steadman I think notxxxx

[@bojojojo913]

🤔 Obsessed or....?

[@johnmarlow5007]

I think Mike Leigh is one of the Best Playwright's, Ever! The fact he let's the Actors Ad-Lib their own lines creates a natural unique real life feel. The Guy is a Genius, and the Actors are brilliant. A pleasure to watch.

[@joanneneaves9651]

Thank you for uploading these clips. Brings back memories

[@BirdArvid]

British at its best; tragicomedy. This movie is sensational; script, acting; the lot!

[@user-cc9vz3ud9e]

This is so real.

[@sampathgunasena3781]

How did Leigh knew this. I've seen this happening and it's spot on.

[@ChadzyC]

I just discovered Mike Leigh and watched a few of his movies, including this. It’s wonderful to see so many people in the comments affected by this scene like I was. Perfect clash of two the most different characters imagined, coming together to sort a lifetime of challenges. Almost hard to believe that a movie as goofy as this one is at times also is capable of a moment like this.

[@DesiranKehendak]

seen Life is Sweet 3-4 times. I cried like a bitch during this scene, every time.

[@amyclarke41]

love Alison in this!😎

[@mmckee7]

Genius

[@maryhinge128]

Alison is gorgeous.

[@bmandrakeeee8378]

you are having, or even not having fun with the silly little movie, with the crazy chef and his awful restaurant. then this poignant scene hits you like a brick

[@lloydbowers8997]

Horrocks's performance is really affecting here. Must be the best she's ever done.

[@essexandy189]

oh Gavin and Stacey

[@Gallo_1.6]

what?

[@offbeat65]

Any other film director would have had Wendy going up to Nicola, touching her and mellow out. Not getting that, the viewer is forced to realize how important it is to be close to each other, not let the other alienate.

[@Scrumpilump2000]

[@thomasgambroadamsson3650]

This scene is both incredibly written and presented, but it's the acting chops that makes it.