I really wanted to love this movie.
Midwinter Break takes a close look at what happens to a long marriage—40 or 50 years in—when old resentments start bubbling up and things quietly start to crack. It’s full of real emotional moments, and it’s carried by two fantastic actors: Lesley Manville and Ciarán Hinds. They’ve got that lived-in chemistry that makes you believe they’ve been together forever.
Join the PERA (Personal Entertainment Research Assistant) waitlist.
The World's Most Indispensable Movie App
The RunPee app tells you the best times to
run & pee during a movie
so you don't miss the best scenes.
Download the RunPee app.
100% free (donation supported)
But here’s the thing…
It’s very slow. I don’t mind thoughtful, quiet films, but this one takes slow to another level—almost glacial. There are long scenes where not much happens at all: people sitting, walking, staring out windows. At 90 minutes, it can feel like the longest hour and a half you’ve ever sat through. You could literally take a peebreak anytime and not miss the plot.
What people are saying
about the RunPee app.
Must have app if you love the movies
If you’re like me and enjoy a 92oz soda as part of the movie experience, you’ll be thankful for this app telling you the best times to go for a quick break. Whether that’s to refill your soda or recycle it.
Possibly an even better feature is the info on if the movie has after credits scenes. There’s nothing worse than sitting there reading about who the key grip was, then finding out that’s all you did. I blame Marvel for the stupid trend.
Seriously, I see a dozen movies a month and use this app every single time. Worth every Penny of the infinity coin thing I bought.
Developers note: the RunPee app is now, and always will be, 100% free. Donations are optional.
View all reviews
Apple App Store | Google Play Store
Download RunPee app
That said, the acting is outstanding and the main reason to watch. Lesley Manville is especially brilliant—every small expression and pause carries so much weight. She and Hinds play off each other perfectly, turning quiet tension into something powerful. That’s what bumps it up to the B category for me.
The close-up shots of the couple look great, but the Amsterdam setting? It’s just kind of there—no real magic or standout city moments. Feels like a missed chance to add some visual spark.
Bottom line: If you’re patient and want to see two top-tier actors at their subtle best, exploring a marriage that’s fraying in the quietest ways, check it out. But if you need more action or pace, this might just
Grade: B-
There are no extra scenes during, or after, the end credits of Midwinter Break.
| Rated: | (PG-13) Some Strong Language | Bloody Images | Alcoholism | Suggestive Material | Thematic Material |
| Genres: | Drama |
| USA release date: | 2026-02-20 |
| Movie length: | |
| Starring: | Lesley Manville, Julie Lamberton, Ciarán Hinds, Ed Sayer, Niamh Cusack |
| Director: | Polly Findlay |
| Writer(s): | Nick Payne, Bernard MacLaverty |
| Language: | en |
| Country: | US |
Plot
Longtime retired couple Stella and Gerry realise that their relationship has reached a crossroads while on holiday in Amsterdam. After so much time and so many memories, long-held promises and deeply concealed wounds threaten to come to light and force them to confront their future.