Five Minute Films, The (BBC 1975, Tim Stern, Richard Griffiths)

Five Minute Films was a collection of short five minute playlets which were originally to be shown before the 9 0’Clock News. In the event the quintet were not shown until 1982 as part of a Mike Leigh season.

The first, The Birth of the Goalie of the 2001 FA Cup Final featured Richard Ireson and Celia Quirke and covers a span of time in the lives of a married couple, the husband of which misses the birth of their first child because he was playing football.

Old Chums features Tim Stern (who would also appear in Leigh’s Abigail’s Party) and was about a disabled man’s attempt to go to the pictures, hampered by his bumping into old friend Terry (played by Robert Putt).

Probation is about a black youth attending his first meeting with a probation officer. Herbert Norville plays the youth and Anthony Carrick the probation officer.

A Light Snack is about a window cleaner (Richard Griffiths) being given a sausage roll and a cup of tea by one his clients – this is intercut with scenes of the goings on in a meat packing factory.

Afternoon is the fifth and final short and stars Pauline Moran, Julie North and Rachel Davies, the story follows three women having an afternoon drink at home.

production details
UK / BBC / 5×5 minutes / 1975 (broadcast 1982)

Devisor/Director: Mike Leigh / Producer: Tony Garnett