Midwinter Break

Play trailer

2:12

Midwinter Break

PG-13

Feb 2026

1h 30m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

63%

Tomatometer

49 Reviews

43%

Popcornmeter

50+ Verified Ratings

MIDWINTER BREAK is a stirring meditation on faith, commitment, and the enduring power of love, as a longtime couple takes a life-changing trip to Amsterdam.

Critics Consensus

While Ciarán Hinds and Lesley Manville are characteristically terrific playing off each other, this rumination on love and spirituality is so restrained that it veers into tedium.

Read Critics Reviews

Donald Clarke

Irish Times

Mar 20

3.5/5

Hinds and Manville skilfully convey a relationship founded on the most fragile of intertwining insecurities. We get a sense that both understand the evasions they are making and accept them for fear of bringing the whole structure down upon their heads.

Go to Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Mar 19

5/5

There is often something soft and fuzzy and depressing in the wrong way about these films’ lenient sunset-sentimentalism -- but not so with Polly Findlay’s fiercely sad, spiky and wonderfully acted film.

Go to Full Review

Keith Uhlich

(All (Parentheses)) (Substack)

Feb 27

Feature-debuting theater director Polly Findlay keeps things gentle and dutiful, with even the should-be-revelatory scenes (Manville’s teary to-a-stranger confessional, particularly) curdled by senescent sentiment.

Go to Full Review

Harris Dang

Impulse Gamer

6d

2.5/5

Midwinter Break is a mildly diverting film that is emotionally convincing thanks to its great performances from Lesley Manville and Ciaran Hinds. However, its problematic storytelling and overly restrained emotions make it less than the sum of its parts.

Go to Full Review

Patrick Cremona

Radio Times

Mar 31

3/5

It's occasionally a little lifeless, but as a portrait of a marriage that's slowly crumbled without any major fireworks, it mostly works.

Go to Full Review

Sarah Manvel

Movies We Texted About

Mar 28

The question is whether they can, or should, find their way back to each other. On small moments major decisions are made, and it’s wonderful to see a movie who knows how to give these moments their due.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Anita K

Mar 7

Slow moving and most boring!

See more

Bob G

Mar 4

not terrible not great.

See more

Randle

Mar 2

Very slow. Good characters and acting. Plot twist is underwhelming.

See more

Mike

Mar 1

Slow, but that's on purpose. It's a very small movie, about two people who are trying to navigate their lives. I'm glad I saw it, and now want to read the book.

See more

Mindy

Mar 1

It was a very slow, dark and sad movie. We didn’t like it at all.

See more

Patti

Feb 28

Depressing from start to finish !!!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Polly Findlay

Director

Lesley Manville

Stella

Ciarán Hinds

Gerry

Niamh Cusack

Kathy

Leila Laaraj

Hennie

Julie Lamberton

Young Stella

Midwinter Break: Movie Clip - You've Outdone Yourself

1:01

View more videos

Midwinter Break: Trailer 1

2:12

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

MIDWINTER BREAK is a stirring meditation on faith, commitment, and the enduring power of love, as a longtime couple takes a life-changing trip to Amsterdam.

Director: Polly Findlay
Producer: Guy Heeley, Floor Onrust
Screenwriter: Bernard MacLaverty, Nick Payne
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Shoebox Films, Film4
Rating: PG-13 (Some Strong Language|Bloody Images|Alcoholism|Suggestive Material|Thematic Material)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 20, 2026, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 10, 2026
Box Office (Gross USA): $506.8K
Runtime: 1h 30m

Most Popular at Home Now