'Nuts in May'

To anyone who loves to observe the eccentricities of the human condition, this film is a real gem.

Other reviewers have rightly pointed out that very little actually happens: it's just an English couple on a camping trip in the 1970s. But that analysis is to ignore the genius at work in the writing, and the acting of the two leads. Every frame, every line, every gesture is filled with humour and pathos - if you're prepared to look for it.

Roger Sloman and Alison Steadman are just sublime in their portrayal of the new-age suburban middle class couple. We scorn them, we pity them, we recognise them and we like them (albeit we wouldn't want to spend much time with them).

For me, the other characters - though necessary for the 'plot,' are less well-drawn. But the two leads are on screen so constantly it barely matters.

There's not much else to say, really. You just have to watch it. A warning though: once discovered, this is the sort of film you want to watch again and again. The dilemma is how you strike the balance between savouring it regularly without getting to know it too well.... I think the important thing is to use your discretion.

I always wonder if Nuts In May was intended to be as hilarious as it turns out to be. Full of quotable lines, the trendy-liberal 70s Keith and Candice-Marie may be overwhelming stereotypes, but they work extremely well. It's a simple tale, subtle in places, but with a great deal of depth. There's a moral here - how ever much you try and escape from the society at large and try and "do your own thing", there's always some authority above you, or someone who comes along and spoils things. Keith may be obstinate and a know-it-all, yet he has a certain sensitivity to his character, he cracks under the pressure, and though he may be a liberal, he isn't exactly tolerant and seems power-crazy. Candice-Marie seems to have a heart of gold, but she's really looking for excitement in her humdrum life. Ray may seem lonely but he has his head screwed on the right way and just doesn't want to be hassled. As for Finger and Honky, they are obnoxious perhaps, uncouth maybe, but they provide comedy and just want to have fun. There's a depth of character in Nuts in May that is refreshing, but there's plenty of humour... watching Keith and Candice-Marie embarrass Ray into singing their appalling hippy zoo song is totally hilarious, and the subtle interplay between the couple is marvellous at times. Mike Leigh gives us characters that are human, with flaws and quirks - there's a great deal of honesty here. It stands up for repeated viewings both for its comedy and its subtlety, and its classic 'quotability'. A masterpiece, frankly.

The Morris Minor convertible used in the NUTS IN MAY Play for Today belonged to my family. My mother was shopping in Wareham Dorset, when members of the BBC had noticed the car parked in the town and waited for the owner to return, when my mother came back from shopping, they asked if they could use the car in a Play for Today. It belonged to my father, and it was agreed this was OK. The BBC kindly lent us a car during the filming. When we saw the play, we really enjoyed it, and could not believe just how much the car was filmed due to the main characters role, the car was almost as much of a celebrity as the leading stars! We recorded the play on video, and remember that this was such a well loved play that the viewers requested for it to be repeated, so with such an overwhelming amount of the public wanting to see it again it was repeated, and is still remembered as one of the best loved plays that ever was. perhaps the BBC would like to repeat it again?

This little film is quite simply a joy to watch. Leigh's gentle humour and wry outlook on life shines through every scene. Effectively plotless, the film follows London couple Keith and Candice Marie Pratt on their camping holiday in Dorset.

The humour derives from the situations that the couple encounter which bring out the curious mixture of autocracy and liberalism in their characters. This reaches a climax with the arrival at the campsite of Honkey and Finger, a couple of rowdy Brummie bikers who infuriate Keith with their free and easy approach to life. When they try to light a campfire (forbidden by the camp rules), Keith attempts to lay down the law and all hell breaks loose.

The film is one long string of hilarious set pieces (still quoted in my family years after seeing it)My favourite is when Honkey and Finger shout 'get back to your tent' to Keith, who loses his temper and shows his true colours by shouting 'AND YOU GET BACK TO YOUR TENEMENTS!'

Overall a non-stop laughter session. But beware, the comedy is low key and character based. If your favourite comedy is 'The Nutty Professor' you probably won't like this much.

Where it all began for Mike Leigh. This was a TV movie about a married couple who go camping. She is an easily led dimwit, he an absolute boor. He marches around the countryside dutifully doing guidebook walks without really taking anything in ("What's that, Keith?" "It's Number 12.") and sticking to his own pre-arranged plans no matter what ("We can't do that tomorrow, we're doing something else tomorrow!") Of course, he goes to pieces by the end, but the best bits are that sheer comedy of embarrassment that Britain does so well.