Life Is Sweet is a 1990 British comedydrama film directed by Mike Leigh, starring Jim Broadbent, Alison Steadman, Claire Skinner, Jane Horrocks and Timothy Spall. Leighs third cinematic film, it was his most commercially successful title at the time of its release. The, by turns, tragicomic story follows the fortunes of a workingclass North London family over a few weeks one summer.
Aubrey Timothy Spall, a hyperactive but emotionally labile family friend, is opening a Parisianthemed restaurant named The Regret Rien. Wendy accepts a parttime job as waitress in the restaurant, but her and Andys initial confidence in the scheme is undermined by Aubreys unorthodox approach to the interior dcor a cluttered, halfrealised combination of outmoded French clichs, such as a bicycle in the bay window, and of tasteless Victoriana such as a stuffed cats head framed by broken accordion sconces and by his menu. His singularly grotesque interpretation of the excesses of nouvelle cuisine includes dishes such as saveloy on a bed of lychees, liver in lager and pork cyst.During the afternoon, whilst the rest of the family are out at work, Nicolas lover unnamed, played by David Thewlis comes to the family home to have sex with her. It appears that Nicola can only be aroused by a combination of light bondage and the consumption of chocolate spread from her chest a practice to which he only reluctantly agrees. He ultimately loses patience with her, accusing her of being a bit vacant and incapable of having a sincere, adult conversation or allowing herself to enjoy his companionship. She calls his bluff and loses frustrated but resolute, he leaves her and her fragile emotional state deteriorates even further. ........
Source: Wikipedia