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Poster for In the Bleak Midwinter

In the Bleak Midwinter

The drama. The passion. The intrigue... And the rehearsals haven't even started.

1995 · 1h 39m · R Comedy
Directed by Kenneth Branagh

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Overview

Out of work actor Joe volunteers to help try and save his sister's local church for the community by putting on a Christmas production of Hamlet, somewhat against the advice of his agent Margaretta. As the cast he assembles are still available even at Christmas and are prepared to do it on a 'profit sharing' basis (that is, they may not get paid anything) he cannot expect - and does not get - the cream of the cream. But although they all bring their own problems and foibles along, something bigger starts to emerge in the perhaps aptly named village of Hope.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
81%
Tomatometer
Rotten

This small-scale, putatively comic meditation on the anxieties and joys of the theatrical life says nothing fresh about the artistic process and manages to be coy and grating in doing so.

Todd McCarthy, Variety
Fresh

A palpable hit.

Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Fresh

A Midwinter's Tale" packs together so many characters and ideas that they crowd one another out, leaving enough room for plenty of chuckles but none for belly laughs.

Stephen Holden, New York Times
Rotten

Looked at coldly, as a piece of entertainment, it clearly doesn't satisfy. But as a personal statement from writer-director Kenneth Branagh, the film still isn't good . . . but it's interesting.

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
Fresh

There are so many laughs here, so much theatrical temperament on display, that you can't help but embrace the picture, even with its obvious flaws.

Hal Hinson, Washington Post

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