“Sincerity is not manipulation.”
The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

Relative Values
Comedy · Romance · 2000
A comedy of discriminating taste and dirty little secrets. In 1952 England, Nigel, the Earl of Marshwood, woos Hollywood star Miranda, upsetting both Nigel's mother, Countess Felicity, and Miranda's former love fellow Hollywood star Don. Right before the engagement party at Marshwood, Moxie, the Countess's personal maid and best friend, reveals that Miranda is her estranged sister. Crestwell, the Countess's butler, devises a plan - but an inebriated Don's arrival at Marshwood to talk to Miranda causes all chaos to break loose.
Relative Values
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
6.1 / 10
Community rating
A comedy of discriminating taste and dirty little secrets. In 1952 England, Nigel, the Earl of Marshwood, woos Hollywood star Miranda, upsetting both Nigel's mother, Countess Felicity, and Miranda's former love fellow Hollywood star Don. Right before the engagement party at Marshwood, Moxie, the Countess's personal maid and best friend, reveals that Miranda is her estranged sister. Crestwell, the Countess's butler, devises a plan - but an inebriated Don's arrival at Marshwood to talk to Miranda causes all chaos to break loose.
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over Relative Values?
The Sentimental Softie
“You came to feel something, and you will.”
Read their caseThe Cool Ironist
“Feeling things is a little embarrassing.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
Watch in your region.
Cinema release signals and current streaming, rental, and purchase options for your region.
Streaming availability data supplied by JustWatch.
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Eric Styles
Written by
Noël Coward · Paul Rattigan
Put Relative Values on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
“The strings are showing.”
Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.






