A Way of Life

"In the real world there are no happy endings"

2004 1h 31m EN

😐

6.4

MID

★6.4TMDB · 12

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

At 17 Leigh-Anne Williams has a six month old baby to look after, with only the help of three teenage squatters who flog stolen gear to make ends meet. A neighbour (actually from Turkey) across the street becomes target to her growing paranoia that Social Services are going to take her daughter, Rebecca, away from her. Her behaviour becoming increasingly desperate as her delusions over her neighbour grow.

“In the real world there are no happy endings”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Cast

Stephanie James
Leigh-Anne Williams
Gary Sheppeard
Robbie Matthews
Dean Wong
Stephen Rajan
Sara Gregory
Julie Osman
Oliver Haden
Hassan Osman
Brenda Blethyn
Annette
Eli Williams
Rebecca Williams
Darcy Williams
Rebecca Williams

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Amma Asante
Writers: Amma Asante
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 22 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

CRAFT

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Amma Asante, shot by Ian Wilson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Steve Singleton shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

AWARDS

Did you know

Stephanie James and Gary Sheppeard and Dean Wong carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "In the real world there are no happy endings".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0365914 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 12 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Amma Asante directs. Ian Wilson behind the camera. Steve Singleton cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 22 years ago.
2Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
3Directed by Amma Asante, shot by Ian Wilson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Editor Steve Singleton shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Stephanie James and Gary Sheppeard and Dean Wong carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "In the real world there are no happy endings".
7IMDB entry: tt0365914 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 12 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.