Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence (1998)

Also known as The Very Thought of You (USA).

Not at first sight a film with anything to do with Bridge (but then what film is? - one has to take what one can get), it is a romantic comedy set in Britain rather like a budget version of a Working Title production such as Four Weddings and a Funeral, or, in particular, Notting Hill.

The female lead Martha, played by Monica Potter, is an American who arrives in London by chance, with no money, and in search of a new life. She meets three men, best friends, who all fall in love with her, without knowing about the others.

The male lead Laurence, played by Joseph Fiennes, is somewhat akin to Hugh Grant's William Thacker in Notting Hill in his less than successful, sensitive character who obviously deserves to win Martha's heart. Most of the film is a flashback of him seeking therapy relating to his feelings when he thinks he's lost her.

After about half an hour of this, the bridge-playing viewer might well feel his attention beginning to wander to other topics such as remembering the correct responses to roman key card blackwood, or how he could have filled the time more profitably by slipping off for a couple of games, but then suddenly interest is galvanised by the revelation that the reason Joseph Fiennes is looking so mournful and put-upon is that he is a Bridge teacher! (one of the extremely rare instances of this profession being portrayed on screen).

Martha presumably is not a player herself and is not impressed at first. She cruelly asks Laurence if he stopped playing tournaments because he wasn't good enough, and the best moment in the film is when he soulfully answers "Yes".

Regrettably the film-makers did not capitalize on this opportunity to explore the world of Bridge professionals, with only one relevant scene where Martha calls Laurence when he is giving a lesson to a room of senior citizens. He's standing by a flip chart that displays a hand, but frustratingly this is not displayed clearly nor do we get to see any more of the lesson or a game actually being played.

Summary

Bridge relevance
Despite the lack of actual play the unique role of a Bridge teacher gives this film a high rating.