THE DUKE, DIRECTED BY ROGER MICHELL

A splendidly British comedy heist movie that pairs the brilliant Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren and neatly does away with the idea that ‘they don’t make ’em like they used to’ to deliver a tale reminiscent of the classic How To Steal A Million. It’s Newcastle in the 1960s and Kempton Bunton is a man fighting for social justice, namely that a pensioner should get a free TV licence! Impulsively, he steals Goya’s Portrait Of The Duke Of Wellington and issues a list of demands.

This enjoyable and heartwarming film has a charming and understated quality, with a nostalgic mise en scène using a lively soundtrack and footage of vintage England. It has a light tone but does not shy away from weightier issues, such as grief and prejudice. Expect charismatic performances and an acerbic and humourous script.