The Reel Review
Stella and Gerry, empty-nesters married for decades, take a vacation trip to Amsterdam, where a long-held secret by one of them surfaces, threatening their marriage. Lesley Manville and Ciarán Hinds star in this marital crisis drama adapted by Bernard MacLaverty from his 2017 novel.
On paper, with its stellar, Oscar-nominated cast and melodic score, helmed by acclaimed London theater director Polly Findlay in her film debut, Midwinter Break should be a welcomed critical darling – an artsy, relationship-focused, non-Marvel, non-blockbuster that these days seems to be in increasingly short supply. In actuality, it is a tedious, boring slog.
Over the course of the film, Stella’s big secret is of course revealed, but enduring the depressing, poorly-paced, hour and a half of almost no action is a total chore. The finale, which betrays the faith-based message of the story with a frustrating “wait, what?!” moment, will serve only to infuriate all but the most forgiving of viewers.
REEL FACTS
• Lesley Manville was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for 2017’s Phantom Thread. Her most recent film credits include 2026’s Cold Storage, 2022’s Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris and 2020’s Let Him Go.
• Ciarán Hinds was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for 2021’s Belfast.
• Director Polly Findlay is an Olivier Award winning British theater director.
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