Sorry We Missed You: a social realist docudrama that feels not a little exploitative itself
Ken Loach, “Sorry We Missed You” (2019) He may be well into his 80s but Ken Loach continues to make social realist film dramas that document…
British Films
The Good Liar: a story of identity, reinvention and revenge shafted by a superficial script
Bill Condon, “The Good Liar” (2019) Getting two giants of British stage and film proved to be the least of director Bill Condon’s problems; the biggest…
Farming: fictional biographical drama ignores its wider social context
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, “Farming” (2018) “Farming” is a fictional biographical drama based on actor / director Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje’s childhood growing up in Britain as a foster child…
British Films, North American Films
Official Secrets: a modest fictional dramatisation of a whistleblower’s ordeal
Gavin Hood, “Official Secrets” (2019) As fictional dramatisations of real events go, “Official Secrets” passes muster in its narrative of a translator working for the British…
O Lucky Man! – a blackly comic odyssey criticising capitalist ideology and values
Lindsay Anderson, “O Lucky Man!” (1973) A satirical allegory that exposes life in Western capitalist society and the values and beliefs needed to survive successfully in…
Savage Messiah: fictional biopic critical of British class system and hypocrisies
Ken Russell, “Savage Messiah” (1972) Idiosyncratic British director Ken Russell’s “Savage Messiah” is a fictional biographic drama of the short life of French artist and sculptor…
British Films, North American Films
Judy: a character study of a Hollywood legend destroyed by an exploitative industry manipulating people’s dreams and hopes
Rupert Goold, “Judy” (2019) Adapted from Peter Quilter’s musical stage drama “End of the Rainbow”, this bio-pic covers the last twelve months of Hollywood film legend…
British Films, Russian and Soviet Films
The Tragedy of Russia’s Reforms: a survey of Russia under Boris Yeltsin’s leadership in the 1990s
Leo Mattei, Johnny Miller, “The Tragedy of Russia’s Reforms” (PressTV, 2017) Made for the Iranian news channel PressTV, this measured documentary turns out to be a…
Nazi Quest for the Holy Grail: a pseudo-scientific project with sinister consequences
Tom Barbor-Might, “Nazi Quest for the Holy Grail” (2013) Of the mish-mash of strange and bizarre ideas, beliefs, pseudo-science and superstitions that were subsumed into Nazi…
Father Brown (Episode 29: The Truth in the Wine): reconciliation and forgiveness win the day
Ian Barber, “Father Brown (Episode 29: The Truth in the Wine)” (2015) Being laid up with flu recently restricted me to watching re-runs of old TV…