RhymePhile's Rat Race

The impending snowstorm to end all snowstorms turned out to be nothing here in Jersey and in Manhattan. I was all prepared to relax at home today, too. Crap.

Forced to come into work and being bored beyond belief led me to my DVD preview copy of the wonderful British telefilm Housewife, 49.

It stars Victoria Wood as real-life WWII-era housewife, Nella Last, who wrote a diary documenting her life during the years of the war (and up until her death in 1968). Aside from the engrossing story of a sheltered, worried woman with a domineering husband who transforms herself into a self-sufficient individual thanks to her volunteer work, it also has the delicious hint of a gay subplot!

Her son Cliff goes off to war and brings home "best friend" James, a fighter pilot. They didn't film smooching scenes, but from their glances and the way Cliff spoke about James it was clear what their true relationship was. Later on, Cliff attempts to explain what James means to him to his mother, but Nella is completely oblivious. Oh, Cliff. I completely understand.

The other interesting thing is that Shameless star David Threlfall played Nella's husband! American audiences haven't been exposed to Shameless yet, but it was supposed to be part of the Sundance Channel programming block. You can also rent Shameless here in the U.S. -- it's black comedy, really wonderful.

Anyway, Housewife, 49 will be out on DVD in Region 1 on March 11. I'm going to pass it along to my mother, who I know will enjoy it. I highly recommend it.