The British director Mike Leigh has been making critically acclaimed films and plays for 50 years. He is perhaps best known for his collaborative, improvisation-led approach, which involves rehearsing with an ensemble cast over an extended period of time. Much like real life, a Mike Leigh film is recalled not in chronological plot terms, but in single, impressionistic shots that contain everything there is to know: a mother standing in the doorway of her teenage daughter’s bedroom in Life Is This story is from Kinfolk Issue Forty-One Buy Now Related Stories Films Issue 51 Point of View Filmmaker Garrett Bradley reflects on a corner of her city. Films Issue 50 Sally Potter The film maestro on her musical debut. Films Issue 49 Ruben Östlund Crude, contrary—and killing it: Meet the auteur of awkwardness. Films Issue 49 Mamoudou Athie The shape-shifting actor is on a roll. Films Issue 49 Fares Fares After almost 25 years, the master actor steps behind the camera. Films Issue 48 Slaying It On the building blocks of horror.
