Director: Ben Taylor

Stars: Bill Nighy, Thomasin McKenzie, James Norton, Joanna Scanlan

This unsubtle but amiable enough Britfilm charts the efforts of the trio behind IVF treatment over a ten-year period and the obstacles they encounter along the way. Northern scientist Robert Edwards (Norton) has already managed to fertilise animal eggs in vitro but lacks the experience to tackle human subjects. With the help and encouragement of driven nurse and embryologist Jean Purdy (McKenzie) Robert approaches recalcitrant surgeon Patrick Steptoe (Nighy) to help them. Steptoe accepts and they set about recruiting groups of wiling wannabe mums to help them with their research. Despite an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response from childless couples, the trio are met with resistance from the medical and political establishment. Jean’s mother (Scanlan), a devout Christian, even threatens to disown her daughter if she continues. A cheery soundtrack of period cuts reassures us that everything will be just fine in a jauntily paced and shameless crowd pleaser, replete with just-so period details, with every character dressed up to the nines in the latest fashion even when just popping to a clinic; plucky British characters speechifying; and Bill Nighy Bill Nighying. Nevertheless, the ending is undeniably stirring.

David Willoughby

Follow David on Twitter @DWill_Crackfilm