Mrs. Ratcliffe's Revolution

Based on a true story, the revolution in question here begins when Mrs. Ratcliffe (Tate) and her family of West Yorkshire communists leave their home town in the late '60s and move to East Germany in search of a Marxist utopia. Much to their surprise and dismay, they quickly find it's not quite the promised land they had hoped for. Nicely played by a charming cast, this is a pleasantly diverting comedy drama with some quirky appeal and a few decent laughs. Tate is hugely impressive in her first major dramatic role and holds the film together when it occasionally stumbles. Ultimately though, it's all a bit cosy and easy, more Carry On Stasi than The Lives of Others. [Paul Greenwood]