Proof that just because a movie is gloomy and bleak doesn’t mean it can’t be incredibly hilarious, Withnail and I has earned its reputation as the ultimate cult British comedy. Bruce Robinson’s semi-autobiographical cinematic bender is a feast of delectably florid dialogue delivered with deadpan relish by stars Richard E. Grant and Paul McGann as, respectively, Withnail and “I,” a pair of perpetually soused, unemployed actors in 1960s London who, desperate to escape their nightmarishly grimy flat, embark on a hilariously misbegotten country getaway beset by menacing locals, bare cupboards, and a randy uncle—all of which they may be able to withstand as long as they don’t run out of alcohol.

Robinson’s dazzling script is one of cinema’s most eminently quotable—“I have of late, but wherefore I know not, lost all mirth” pairs well with “I feel like a pig shat on my head”—but it’s the bittersweet evocation of a friendship gradually unraveling that gives this beloved end-of-youth tale its lasting poignancy.

Grant, in particular, shines as Withnail, bringing hilarity to nearly every line he speaks and making the already-hilarious lines even funnier. Roger Ebert dubbed Withnail “one of the iconic figures in modern films.”

Hosted by Melo Grant. Grant (no relation to Richard E.) is widely known about town today as the City Councilor for Burlington’s Central District, but her VTIFF connection comes through being a major film buff who served as the film buyer for gone-and-much-lamented Waterfront Video. She’s been a fan of Withnail since seeing it in its original release.