A long unseen and key work in his acclaimed career, director Lindsay Anderson (If...,Oh, Lucky Man) here reunites the cast from his original Royal Court Theatre production of David Storey's semi autobiographical play, In Celebration.
Alan Bates (The Go-Between, Gosford Park), James Bolam (The Likely Lads, O Lucky Man!) and Brian Cox (The Bourne Identity, Troy), in his first film role, play three brothers returning to the Northern mining town they grew up in for their parents' (Bill Owen & Constance Chapman) Fortieth wedding anniversary. Some long-buried and painful truths bubble to the surface of this family reunion as the three grown sons argue over their individual problems while Mum bustles about cluelessly and Dad waits uneasily for whichever crisis might erupt first.
With superb performances from the entire cast, In Celebration is a tender and moving study of family at breaking point, a story of love, repressed emotions and of ultimate redemption.