POTENTIAL SPOILERS The female protagonist somehow, despite being portrayed in a Holmes manner manages to miss the biggest clues of all, which are in her face. Also despite being the main protagonist, she remains a sexualised object who is slapped down by her male colleague after collapsing when she discovers the truth. I stopped watching at this point (near the end) as I had had enough of the patriarchy. The film is derivative and absolute trash.
Reviews
10 Reviews
DI Ray
(2022– )
A different slant
6 May 2022
This drama is less well reviewed than it deserves. I have heard it is poorly set up and lacks originality. Well if it were a white boy lead, I'm sure many reviewers would see things differently. The thing is it's a woman, of South Asian heritage and the central theme is her perspective. I'm not sure I can see so many equivalents that it's not original. The show so far has been really gripping in terms of the drama, one of those "when is the next episode on". There is police drama aplenty and it is packed with the tensions and intrigues we love in police drama. Rather than the stereotypical broken man, rule bender we have a woman who meticulously follows the rules because she has to but heads against her superiors because of who she is. She is strong and determined and has agency. There are subtext other than that of the racism she experiences also, along the lines of her own self image. I have watched 3 of 4 and am gagging to see the end, except it will have ended then.
Giri/Haji
(2019)
Not the trite gangster film you might think it is
11 May 2021
I tried watching this when it came out, but all the mysterious macho stabbing left me thinking it wasnt for me. I saw Kelly Macdonald in line of duty and was wowed by her performance there so looked at her filmography and tried this again and went past the opening stages. What I found there was a stunning piece of subtle, wide ranging drama on a gangster back drop. The writing is excellent and as the programme develops it doesnt just get more 'plot twisty', it gives you a deep and touching exploration of a huge number of characters and their development in adversity. I dont want to say more, the programme does such a good job. Suffice to say whoever you are there is breadth and depth here as well as a blooming gripping storyline.
Between the Covers
(2020– )
The Best Book review Show I Have Ever Seen
21 November 2020
In the UK there is a spectrum of book clubs/reviews on TV spanning form the deeply intellectual to the Judy & Richard "beach reads".
This show is somewhere in between: not because it is middle of the road, but because it spans the extremes and all the in betweeners. It has guests from various cultures, ages & backgrounds, who are invited to bring a book they love, read a 'book club' selection (which is pre shared with the audience) and answer some quirky questions which are devices to introduce different aspects of guests reading. All brilliantly and lightly led by its excellent host Sarah Cox who is charismatic & witty whilst avoiding being shallow
The Firefly
(2013)
Beautiful
2 November 2018
This film could be read as a romance or an exploration of grief with a hopeful and healing energy.
It may have flaws, according to the rulebook, but how dull would film be if everyone read the rulebook instead of making film with their heart and soul. I have watched the film several times, sometimes years apart. Unlike many, even of my favourite films, this film grips me emotionally and engrosses me all the way through. I find myself having to unclench muscles as I have tensely been swept along with the emotion. I am always left feeling as though every broken relationship has hope.
I am sorry she had to make this film, but very grateful she did and I'm sure her brother's soul was touched.
To Walk Invisible: The Brontë Sisters
(2016 TV Movie)
A response to some reviews
17 November 2017
This film feels to me like THE depiction of the Brontes for our age. It is compelling each time I watch it (3 times now). I found the approach to a "historical" period so refreshingly vibrant and earthy as well as being strikingly filmed it's almost like a hyper real rendition of the time rather than the chocolate box visions we are often given. I've noticed a theme in several reviews asking why the film is so focused on Bramwell, when it is supposed to w about the women? I HATE it when this male centric approach to EVERYTHING happens due to our still malecentric world. However in this film's case I think it was exactly right and was used as a tool to show how very dependent the women were on the men in their lives. The users were safe while their father was alive, but having no legal right to hold property or money of their own their lives were in peril due to the solipsistic self destructiveness of their brother. In stead of showing 3 insipid women relying on men as is usual it showed 3 strong intelligent women whose social status and wealth were manacled to Bramwell's with no recourse to their independence. So I think to say the film focused on him too much is to miss the point Sally Wainwright was making. A couple of American reviewers have said they could not understand the film and to them I would say: put the subtitles on. The film uses northern dialect/accent as would have been spoken (and still is). If the characters spoke received pronunciation it would have sounded ridiculous and lost some of its heart. To take a reverse example I loved "The Wire" but in the beginning found I could not understand half of what was said, subtitles allowed me to enjoy it without it being artificially "smoothed" for general viewing. So basically I think this film is excellent. I loved the very end sequence of transition too. It made me feel so close to the characters.
Viceroy's House
(2017)
An Honest new fresh look at partition
5 March 2017
I am a bit of a fan of Gurinder Chadha's work Bhaji on the Beach, What's Cooking Paris Je t'aime and Bend it being my favourites)and was aware that she intended to make this film many years ago and as I also have an interest in the history of India as plundered by the UK I have been keenly awaiting its release.
I had heard some ropy reviews, particularly from BBC radio 3. also a suggestion of being over reaching and 'Downtonesque' from the film 2017 cast. Thankfully this didn't put me off.
Just back from seeing this film.
I am not disappointed, in fact my expectations were far exceeded. one of the features of her films is always love. She has the ability to convey the emotion of utterly horrible things without doing the cliché showing and perpetuating violence.
The highlights for me. the portrayal of the involvement and point of view of his wife, unexpectedly well played by Gillian Anderson ( not that I don't like her, I just couldn't imagine her in this role. The portrayal of the viewpoint shared by the staff - which is of course the point of view of the Indians so roughly treated by the raj and how she puts us in their position so we really see it from their eyes, I felt like I was peeping through doors with them. The history was told clearly and unflinchingly without the violence being centre stage - that's been done and done again. Gurinder showed us the effect on people. All this was made almost palatable and certainly accessible by the device of the young lovers, cruelly torn apart by the partition.
Why 9 points and not ten? well despite illustrating that there was skulduggery afoot amongst the government I do think Dicky was painted a little too upright, straightforward and honest and I just don't believe that. However, I do not profess to know the history so well and may be wrong.
I had heard some ropy reviews, particularly from BBC radio 3. also a suggestion of being over reaching and 'Downtonesque' from the film 2017 cast. Thankfully this didn't put me off.
Just back from seeing this film.
I am not disappointed, in fact my expectations were far exceeded. one of the features of her films is always love. She has the ability to convey the emotion of utterly horrible things without doing the cliché showing and perpetuating violence.
The highlights for me. the portrayal of the involvement and point of view of his wife, unexpectedly well played by Gillian Anderson ( not that I don't like her, I just couldn't imagine her in this role. The portrayal of the viewpoint shared by the staff - which is of course the point of view of the Indians so roughly treated by the raj and how she puts us in their position so we really see it from their eyes, I felt like I was peeping through doors with them. The history was told clearly and unflinchingly without the violence being centre stage - that's been done and done again. Gurinder showed us the effect on people. All this was made almost palatable and certainly accessible by the device of the young lovers, cruelly torn apart by the partition.
Why 9 points and not ten? well despite illustrating that there was skulduggery afoot amongst the government I do think Dicky was painted a little too upright, straightforward and honest and I just don't believe that. However, I do not profess to know the history so well and may be wrong.
Life in Squares
(2015)
A refreshing angle
15 August 2015
I recorded this mini series because being a fan of Woolf's writing and being interested in Keynes I was interested in the topic. I delayed watching it because of the potential for lascivious sexism and cliché I have observed in other artistic works regarding the Bloomsbury set.
I started watching it when I was ill and was gripped. I like the way the author focused on Vanessa Bell and the avoidance of sexist representations of the women, as is so often the case, especially where there is a break from accepted relationship convention.
I was so glad the author just introduced some characters by name and didn't over explain who everyone was and list their achievements. Unlike a previous reviewer I was glad the snobbishness and self importance and flaws of individuals was not written out.
I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of angelica's experience. This took the examination of the group far beyond previous works I have encountered, giving the story some real emotional meaning.
Over all this series seemed to me to be an exploration of relationships. It reminded me of Phillip Larkin's poem of parenthood.
I started watching it when I was ill and was gripped. I like the way the author focused on Vanessa Bell and the avoidance of sexist representations of the women, as is so often the case, especially where there is a break from accepted relationship convention.
I was so glad the author just introduced some characters by name and didn't over explain who everyone was and list their achievements. Unlike a previous reviewer I was glad the snobbishness and self importance and flaws of individuals was not written out.
I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of angelica's experience. This took the examination of the group far beyond previous works I have encountered, giving the story some real emotional meaning.
Over all this series seemed to me to be an exploration of relationships. It reminded me of Phillip Larkin's poem of parenthood.
The Fall
(I) (2013–2016)
Three dimensional characters - Good dialogue & Scarily gripping
5 June 2013
One more episode to go, odd time to write a review but I just cant wait to express how good this show is.
I love detective stories, and have grown to accept a certain number of stereotypes if the plotting is good, it seems to go with the territory.
Not here though. The writing is fantastic, the tough old duffer cops show emotion, the strong female lead is a strong woman with dimensions slowly emerging as the series evolves. Without unrealistically ignoring the sorts of prejudice extant in our society the writing avoids her being a typical 'ballbuster' and allows her to develop meaningful relationships and respect among her colleagues.
The anti hero is fantastically normal and so much more menacing for this, especially outside of the killing 'events'.
The plotting is pacey and involving, the series has become more gripping with each episode. Fingers crossed for the denouement. I have very high hopes.
I love detective stories, and have grown to accept a certain number of stereotypes if the plotting is good, it seems to go with the territory.
Not here though. The writing is fantastic, the tough old duffer cops show emotion, the strong female lead is a strong woman with dimensions slowly emerging as the series evolves. Without unrealistically ignoring the sorts of prejudice extant in our society the writing avoids her being a typical 'ballbuster' and allows her to develop meaningful relationships and respect among her colleagues.
The anti hero is fantastically normal and so much more menacing for this, especially outside of the killing 'events'.
The plotting is pacey and involving, the series has become more gripping with each episode. Fingers crossed for the denouement. I have very high hopes.
The Bletchley Circle
(2012–2014)
Stunning post war feminist thriller
21 September 2012
A group of women who worked at Bletchley during the war return to their undervalued prewar existences until one of them happens upon a line of enquiry regarding a spate of murders of young women. She finds old colleagues from the Bletchley years and they form the eponymous circle to crack the code of the killings. Not believed and told to back down by all men in their lives and the authorities they fight alone to attempt to solve some pretty gruesome murders.
The writing is excellent and the portrayals by. Each of the four women leads is rounded, true and touching in their different ways. The only thing I would change is the over egged references to the murder being solved as a code: it was as if the writers felt it was a bit of a stretch and so had to 'explain' it all the time and thus made this one aspect a little clumsy and difficult to sustain suspension of disbelief.
A good look at the roles and struggles of women of the period but based on the murder mystery pace and style it is not preachy but accessible and exciting.
There have been plenty of hinted at back story lines and there is lots of room for growth and new story lines in a second series - she says with fingers crossed and a begging nod to The makers/funders
The writing is excellent and the portrayals by. Each of the four women leads is rounded, true and touching in their different ways. The only thing I would change is the over egged references to the murder being solved as a code: it was as if the writers felt it was a bit of a stretch and so had to 'explain' it all the time and thus made this one aspect a little clumsy and difficult to sustain suspension of disbelief.
A good look at the roles and struggles of women of the period but based on the murder mystery pace and style it is not preachy but accessible and exciting.
There have been plenty of hinted at back story lines and there is lots of room for growth and new story lines in a second series - she says with fingers crossed and a begging nod to The makers/funders
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