Funny Cow

Set in northern England during the 1970s and 80s, this bruising domestic drama tells the story of a defiant, working-class woman who pursues a career as a stand-up comic. Maxine Peake's plays the title character - she's never called anything else - who endures a life stained by abuse and sexism, not least from her husband (Tony Pitts), who is a violent, controlling bully. Meanwhile, everyone else keeps telling her that women can't "do" comedy. As she attempts to prove them all wrong, the story jumps between different periods in her life. The stand-up sequences are mildly amusing at best, though you should be prepared for the sort of bigoted, unreconstructed humour that was all too prevalent at the time. However, the dramatic scenes are surprisingly effective, with Peake excellent throughout.