Midwinter Break Trailer & Fun Facts
Midwinter Break Synopsis:
During a winter getaway to Amsterdam, retired couple Stella (Lesley Manville) and Gerry (Ciarán Hinds) find their forty-year marriage at a breaking point. As they wander the city, they are forced to confront Gerry’s hidden alcoholism and Stella’s growing spiritual independence while grappling with a traumatic past they left behind in Northern Ireland. It is an intimate, life-altering meditation on whether long-term commitment can survive when two people begin to pull toward different futures.
Genre: Drama
Release Date: In theaters February 20th, 2026
Midwinter Break Fun Facts:
A Powerhouse Reunion:
The movie stars Lesley Manville (from The Crown) and Ciarán Hinds (from Game of Thrones). Both are famous, highly respected actors from Britain and Ireland. In this film, they play Stella and Gerry, a couple who has been married for a long time. It gives viewers a rare chance to watch them portray a husband and wife facing a difficult turning point in their relationship.
From Theater to Screen:
This movie is the first feature film directed by Polly Findlay. While she is new to making movies, she is extremely successful as a theater director. She has even won an Olivier Award (a top honor in theater) for her famous work at the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Because she has a rich experience in theater, the movie will likely focus intimately on the characters and their personal feelings.
A "Devastating" Twist:
Although it sounds like a simple story about a couple on vacation in Amsterdam, the producers indicated there is a shocking secret waiting to be discovered. The plot involves Stella’s hidden religious plans and a "debt" the couple owes from their past. This past involves "The Troubles," a period of violent conflict in Northern Ireland.
Written by a Rising Star:
The script was co-written by Nick Payne, who has recently become a very popular writer for making emotional films. He also wrote the 2024 film We Live in Time (starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh), which is highly emotional. Due to his writing style, you should expect Midwinter Break to be highly emotional and moving as well.
Authentic Atmospheric Filming:
To capture the cold, winter feeling of the story, the movie was filmed on location in Amsterdam and Scotland. The cinematography was done by Laurie Rose, who also worked on the show Peaky Blinders. He focuses on the difference between the freezing, beautiful outdoors of the Amsterdam canals and the private atmosphere of the couple’s hotel room, where they feel both warmth and tension.