Still Life

This melancholy, low-key drama opens with a series of diverse funerals. At each one, the only person in attendance is John May (Eddie Marsan), a lonely council worker who organises the burial service whenever someone in his borough dies alone. Doing much more than the job requires, John is unusually meticulous and thorough, acting as a detective of sorts by tracking down any friends or relatives who might wish to pay their respects to the deceased. After being made redundant, he persuades his boss to let him finish one final case, which centres on a hot-tempered alcoholic who recently passed away. The story that follows is sombre and understated to a fault, but it also contains several quietly affecting moments, most of which are complemented by a beautiful score by Rachel Portman. The real reason to watch, though, is Marsan, who provides a typically impressive performance in the lead role.