The nature of contrivance. How to watch a Mike Leigh movie: The short and Curlies -- Biography and career outline -- Character and plot: Meantime and Four days in July -- Art and narrative: Naked and Secrets and Lies -- Topsy-turvy girls, career boys: Career girls and Topsy-turvy -- Vera's fingers: All or Nothing and Vera Drake -- Five lessons, Four seasons: Happy-go-lucky and Another year -- Interview with Mike Leigh