8. Family Life (1971)
Another harrowing misery fest from the Master of Social Realism - Ken Loach - Family Life follows the very sad story of a young woman called Janice. Janice lives with her stifling, conservative parents who lead a rather dull working class life. Her older sister is married with children. Janice's parents are disapproving of virtually everything Janice does and so they get their knickers in a right twist when Janice becomes pregnant out of wedlock. Janice has already exhibited signs of mental instability and whenever her parents force her into an abortion, she cannot psychologically cope with this. She surrenders to schizophrenia and neither the medical authorities or her parents can figure her out. Sandy Ratcliff gives a terrific job of portraying Janice who is put under pressure from all sides in her life. Her performance is quiet and understated, not a screaming, hysterical portrait of madness. The film feels very real - it could almost be a documentary as the characters squabble and bitch with each other. Janice's parents are true monsters, calling themselves decent, upright citizens - their petit bourgeoisie life is brain dead and boring, Janice gets called a troublemaker for simple youth indiscretions. The final scene of the movie where a seemingly catatonic Janice is rolled out in a wheelchair for a medical lecture is absolutely harrowing. A young woman has had her spirit irrevocably broken.