All or Nothing

The Romani hero of the Czech series Most! complains in one scene about how he ruined his life by stealing cars. His companion cuts him off, saying that he is just a victim. He doesn't know yet who or what, but he shouldn't be afraid, something always turns up. World cinema tends to view outsiders through the lens of sympathy and categorize them as victims of the system. Mike Leigh looks at his characters without illusions and instead of fighting for something or protesting against something, he presents a somewhat nihilistic picture of lower-class people who stumble from one crisis to another and are unable to overcome the limits imposed by their own passivity and lack of discipline. They move in circles and even the younger generation of viewers cannot find a reason for optimism. As a social statement, it is strong and truthful, and I believe in this view of British white trash. I just occasionally feel that Leigh is pushing too hard and makes his character Phil one-dimensional. This is not how an undecided man behaves, but rather a stubborn one. Otherwise, I have no objections to the casting and the actors involved deserve a thumbs-up. Overall impression: 75%. (12/22/2019)

An uncomfortably realistic probe into the lives of people who find themselves on the margins of society, where poverty and destitution rub shoulders. It is vividly shown here that most of them ended up in a difficult position due to their own actions directly related to a passive approach to problem-solving, which, among other things, led to the inability to communicate effectively. The film is literally filled with excellently observed situations, which are also very credibly portrayed by the actors. Only the comedic dimension was somewhat hidden because it is a social drama as good as any. (80%) (04/05/2021)