A Midwinter's Tale (1995)

A frustrated out of work actor (Michael Maloney) takes matters into his own hands and attempts to stage a production of HAMLET in ten days during the Christmas season in a church in a small English village. His company consists of a ragtag group of fellow failed actors whose enthusiasm makes up for the multitude of problems and headaches that arise. The film profits by being written and directed by Kenneth Branagh, who knows both Shakespeare and actors which gives the advantage of authenticity to the project. Anyone who has ever been a member of or worked in a theater troupe will see the shock of recognition more than once. That being said, there's an underlying sentimentality that doesn't quite ring true which mars the proceedings but not enough to discredit it. Shot in black and white which accents the film's alternate title, IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER. The game cast includes Joan Collins, Celia Imrie, Richard Briers, John Sessions, Nicholas Farrell, Mark Hadfield, Hetta Charnley and two of ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS alumni, Jennifer Saunders and Julia Sawalha.