In “Janice Beard,” a clever script and skilled actors bring new energy to the familiar topic of office politics. Flashbacks show the strange world that Janice Beard was born into after her father died during childbirth. Her mother (Sandra Voe) developed a “post-natal post-mortem depression” and has been afraid to leave her house for almost 20 years. Determined to raise money to cure her mother's fear of life, Janice (Eileen Walsh) leaves for London to begin a secretarial career.

   Walsh's performance gives Janice a youthful optimism, determination and instinctive intelligence that remains appealing even as Janice continues to be incapable of keeping a job. Janice keeps in touch with her mother by mailing elaborate videos fabricating stories of a successful career. Her resourcefulness reflects the inventive details throughout the screenplay (co-written by director Clare Kilner).

   A chance encounter with a childhood friend, Violet (Frances Gray), leads to a clerical job at Violet's office that could become permanent if Janice meets approval. But her new boss, Julia (Patsy Kensit, “Angels and Insects”), is status-conscious and disdainful. Janice unwittingly becomes part of a corporate espionage scheme involving Sean (Rhys Ifans, “Human Nature”) who works in the mailroom and to whom Janet becomes attracted. The imagination that had always gotten Janice into trouble comes in handy as she is forced to deal with intensifying crises.

   With a uniformly good cast, director Kilner maintains a lively pace throughout the relatively short and continually amusing run of the film. Starring Eileen Walsh, Rhys Ifans and Patsy Kensit. Directed by Clare Kilner. Written by Clare Kilner and Ben Hopkins. Produced by Judy Counihan. An Empire release. Comedy. Unrated. Running time: 78 min