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Derek Malcolm's rating
Not so brief encounter in The Waiting Room
By
Derek Malcolm
5 Jun 2008
This rather downbeat British romcom from Roger Goldby has strangers Anna (Anne-Marie Duff) and Stephen (Ralf Little) introduced to each other by an elderly man (Frank Finlay) who waits every day for his wife in a deserted railway waiting room.
The wife never comes and is probably dead. But Anna and Stephen are instantly attracted to each other, which is complicated. Anna is a single mother who is unwisely having a fling with the husband (Rupert Graves) of her best friend (Zoe Telford). Stephen lives with a girl (Christine Bottomley) who wants to start a family but knows there's something wrong somewhere. It is clearly going to be a difficult weekend for everybody.
The Waiting Room has so many different strands that only a few of them can find enough space to thrive - though it is at its best as an examination of three women in fraught relationships. Duff is particularly good while Telford and Bottomley aren't far behind.
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Reader views (3)
It was dire!
- Sallyp, London, 11/06/2008 23:36
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Actually, I think a lot of intelligent people will enjoy it. It's a thoughtful and at times quite moving film. Great cast. Nice to see residential London too.
- Katherine, London, 08/06/2008 18:17
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You obviously missed the point of the film, Malcolm. And quite obvious that you didn't see the whole thing as Frank Finlay's wife turns up. It's a very intelligent film about very real relationships which anyone who watches it will identify with.
- Chalkie, London, 05/06/2008 14:49
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