In 1975, the BBC hired Mike Leigh to create a series of Five-Minute Films. Leigh, a master of kitchen sink naturalism, explained his garrulous bursts of plot and character: ‘I thought it was a cracking idea, and I would have done forty of them or fifty ‘ so you’d see them all the time, and sometimes you might see a character you never saw again, sometimes you might see somebody popping up for a moment and then be a main character in another one, or there’d be a couple of ones that would run on to a narrative. It would be a whole microcosm of the world. There was debate about whether they should be shown at the same time or they should be dotted around the channel, like currants in the pudding, as Tony Garnett, the producer, called it.’ Although these were made in 1975, they were not broadcast until 1982. Mike Leigh had originally intended to make around 50 of these five-minute stories, but only these five pilots ended up getting made.
Season 1
5 episodes
1. The Birth of the Goalie of the 2001 F.A. Cup FinalA slow-witted couple decide to start a family.CC5minSep 5, 1982
2. Old ChumsA man relentlessly bombards another man with small talk, while the other man tries to fend for himself while using crutches.CC5minSep 6, 1982
3. ProbationA boy goes to see his probation officer.CC5minSep 7, 1982
4. A Light SnackA window cleaner fancies a sausage roll, but all is not well in the sausage roll factory.CC5minSep 8, 1982
5. AfternoonA couple of old friends drown their sorrows together while reveling in the naivety of a young newly-wed.CC5minSep 9, 1982
Five-Minute Films
In 1975, the BBC hired Mike Leigh to create a series of Five-Minute Films. Leigh, a master of kitchen sink naturalism, explained his garrulous bursts of plot and character: ‘I thought it was a cracking idea, and I would have done forty of them or fifty ‘ so you’d see them all the time, and sometimes you might see a character you never saw again, sometimes you might see somebody popping up for a moment and then be a main character in another one, or there’d be a couple of ones that would run on to a narrative. It would be a whole microcosm of the world. There was debate about whether they should be shown at the same time or they should be dotted around the channel, like currants in the pudding, as Tony Garnett, the producer, called it.’ Although these were made in 1975, they were not broadcast until 1982. Mike Leigh had originally intended to make around 50 of these five-minute stories, but only these five pilots ended up getting made.
Creators and cast
- Directors
- Mike Leigh
- Created by
- Mike Leigh
Maturity rating
Not yet rated.
Audio languages
English
Where to watch
Not currently listed on any streaming, rental or purchase service.
Details and artwork from TMDB. Availability from JustWatch and can change without notice.