Category Archives: Drama

2018, Abortion, Acceptable for teenagers, Based on true facts, Danish, Danish Soap Opera, Danish TV series, Divorce, Drama, Ends in Cliff Hanger, Ethical struggles, Extramarital Affair, Failing Marriage, Father-daughter relations, Flirting, Friendship, Jealousy, Medical Theme, MHz Choice, Mother-daughter relations, Nurses, Revenge, Romance

The New Nurses (2018)

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From IMDB:

Love, sickness, health and exam anxiety at a Danish hospital in the 50s. Erik (Morten Hee Andersen) and Anna (Molly Blixt Egelind) are among the first to be accepted into a nursing school with men and women being trained together. Due to a lack of trained nurses, the danish government decides, on a trial basis, that it is acceptable for a man to work as a nurse. It is not easy for the men to be accepted as nurses in an working environment with old-fashioned hierarchies and strict disciplinary work ethics.

From MHz Choice you can stream 2 seasons of this Danish TV series. Each season contains 6 episodes. Each episode lasts about 40 minutes. Danish with English subtitles.

In case you were wondering what the Danish name for this series is, the title is Sygeplejeskolen. Now, don’t you feel better for knowing?

In all seriousness, this is a fine soap opera series involving lots of appealing fresh-faced young women and men nurse-trainees, doctors, and teachers. Needless to say, there are lots of romances, love affairs, unwanted pregnancies, and patient dramas.

One example of a romance should suffice: One female nurse-trainee (let’s call her Anna) falls in love with a male trainee (call him Eric). But that young man has two problems: He finds the text book portion very difficult and he has such a big heart that he gets himself in trouble helping patients sometimes by bending rules. As a result he has to leave the program and then moves to England to study. He leaves at the end of season 1. During season 2 Anna pines for Eric but meets and is attracted to another fellow (Jake?) who is not a part of the hospital but knew Anna from their school days. Anna never gets mail from Eric. Jake proposes to Anna. In the last episode of season 2 Anna gets a packet of letters from Eric. These letters had somehow been misplaced by the postal service. In the last few seconds of the season Anna is about to open the all important letter from Eric, but she does not read the letter in season 2. Talk about a cliff hanger! More seasons will follow.

If you like innocent, non-violent romantic soap operas, this series is for you.

2001, Amazon Prime, Art Marketing, Based on true facts, British, Cancer theme, Drama, Flashbacks, Friendship, Narcissist, Nudity, Plot Twist, Suicide

Morlang (2001)

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From Amazon Prime:

A chilling, psychological drama about jealousy, betrayal and revenge.  A married couple copes with an affair, but once betrayed, can you trust the one you love? Official Selection – Tribeca and Rotterdam International Film Festivals.

From Amazon Prime you can stream this 1 hour 35 minute feature film.

Julius Morlang,  a photographic artist, is played by Paul Freeman about whom the following is written in IMDB:

Probably one of Britain’s most underrated actors, Paul Freeman has accumulated literally hundreds of screen credits over several decades, most notably as the main villain in the Steven Spielberg classic Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), and he has worked extensively in the theatre, but he has managed to avoid becoming a star or even a household name.

As a technique for telling the story,  the film sequencing  does the following;  Show a short scene. Let the story develop more. Return to that short scene but this time show the rest of what REALLY happened.  In an extreme way, the script really jumps back and forth in time.

From the beginning it would appear that Julius Morlang is just an emotionally repressed man who remains silent while refusing to communicate or even acknowledge his and his wife’s concerns.  But if you can stick with the film to the end you are In for a big surprise.  Perhaps I am slow, but I just did not see the truth until the end.  Do not stop watching until you see screen credits because there is another surprise waiting in addition to what you think is the big revelation.  To avoid a spoiler I purposely omitted some appropriate categories for the film.

Possibly slow, but well worth watching.

2018, Amazon Prime, Basically Sad, Bullying, Child abuse, Child Molestation, Conspiracy, Corruption, Crime, Drama, Dysfunctional Lives, Father-daughter relations, Mother-son relations, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Pedophilia, Physical child abuse, Police Corruption, Police cover-up, Psychological Drama, Sensitive treatement of emotions, Suspense, Violent, Wonderful acting

A Dark Place (2018)

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From IMDB:

When a young boy goes missing in a sleepy backwoods town, a local sanitation truck driver, Donald, plays detective, embarking on a precarious and obsessive investigation.

From Amazon Prime you can stream this 1 hour 29 minute feature film.

Hats off to the incredibly talented and adaptable Irish actor Andrew Scott.  You can watch him in Fleabag and Handsome Devil. In “Fleabag” (Amazon Prime) he plays a Catholic priest. In “Handsome Devil” he plays a somewhat closeted gay private school teacher. In “A Dark Place” he plays to perfection a personality-disabled obsessive compulsive garbage man.

If I had to make an amateur guess, I would says the character suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome. His withdrawn and hesitant demeanor reflects the small town’s low opinion and dismissal of him.  But he is NOT stupid. In fact his determined obsessiveness coupled with his native intelligence drive him to expose an atrocious  crime which was covered over by corrupt forces in the town.  What I marvel most about this film is Scott’s ability to channel a lonely disliked oddball to such an extent that I ended up commiserating with and rooting for the character.  Facial expressions and physical movement are part of Scott’s acting toolbox.

Speaking of facial expressions, don’t miss the last grimace of the sheriff.

Corrupt bullies versus a disadvantaged good guy is a scenario that always holds my attention.

DO NOT MISS!

 

2016, Acceptable for teenagers, Boarding school, Bullying, Drama, Fist Fight, Friendship, Gay Bashing, Gay theme, High school students, Homophobia, Irish, Netflix Streaming, Rugby, School Teacher, Teenagers, Unloved Child

Handsome Devil (2016)

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From IMDB:

Ned and Conor are forced to share a bedroom at their boarding school. The loner and the star athlete at this rugby-mad school form an unlikely friendship until it’s tested by the authorities.

From Netflix you can stream this  1 hour 35 minute feature Irish film.

As far as gay themed stories go,  this film is a really well-done film that avoids both clichés and sex scenes.  In fact, sexual activity is not in any way a part of the plot.  Ned is a non-athletic, gay, loners who is forced by his uncaring parents to attend a rugby-mad school.  He is forced to share his bedroom with a closeted, gay star athlete who has switched to this school because of past troubles.

All the administrators, teachers, coaches, and students care only for winning a coming important rugby match.  However, along comes a new teacher Mr. Sherry who is himself gay and somewhat closeted but with a strong, defiant personality. Mr. Sherry is played by Andrew Scott who played the priest in the series Fleabag.

Of course, you might argue, overcoming homophobia is a cliché. In this respect the film wears its heart on its sleeve.  Enjoy it anyway.

2016, Acceptable for teenagers, Amazon Prime, Drama, Ethical struggles, Gay theme, Jealousy, Love Story, Marital Infidelity, Nostalgia, Nudity, Panic Attacks, Personal Betrayal, Sex Scenes, Talking Heads

Lazy Eye (2016)

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From IMBD:

When Dean, a graphic designer in Los Angeles, notices a sudden change in his vision, an ex-love from 15 years earlier contacts him unexpectedly in hopes of rekindling their relationship. When the two meet at a vacation house in the desert near Joshua Tree, secrets are revealed and passions rekindled that threaten to upend both of their lives. Forty-eight hours later, neither will ever be the same.

From Amazon Prime:

Passions reignite & hidden secrets revealed when a graphic designer in Los Angeles reconnects with an ex-lover he hasn’t seen or heard from in 15 years. Over the course of a weekend at a vacation house in the desert, they must determine whether or not they have a future together. Written and directed by Emmy, Gotham, GLAAD and Independent Spirit Award Nominee Tim Kirkman.

From Amazon Prime you can stream this 1 hour 27 minute complete film.

Basically the film uses the talking heads technique. Unless that talking is interesting such films can be dull. But there is something real and intense about the conversation between Dean and Alex. Between the mundane topics, now and then brutal honesty pops up.

So many films offer the same tired cliché: A meets B, they fall in love and have sex, difficulties arise and are solved, happy ending. This film is different but I offer no spoilers.  But the film is a testament to courageous choices.

Not bad.

2007, Acceptable for teenagers, Alcoholism, Amazon Prime, Basically Sad, British, Controlling personality, Drama, Revenge, Wonderful acting

Capturing Mary (2007)

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From IMDB:

A young man ushers an older woman into a dark exploration of her past – back to the time when, as a young girl, she met a stranger who affected her life forever.

From Amazon Prime you can stream this 1 hour 45 minute complete film.

“Joe’s Palace” was reviewed immediately before “Capturing Mary” which is somewhat of a sequel to “Joe’s Palace”. That is to say, the story takes place in the same well-kept but empty London town house with the same door keeper  Joe again played by Danny Lee Wynter. But this time who should come to the door but an elderly Maggie Smith playing Mary Gilbert.  In this film from 2007 Maggie Smith was 75 years old. She makes no attempt at remedial makeup because she portrays a sad, regretful, possibly alcoholic woman whose life was ruined by a controlling and vindictive man Greville White played by David Walliams. If you go to IMDB and look at Mr. Walliams’ resumé you will discover that the list is impressive.

Once again Ruth Wilson shines in her part as young Mary Gilbert. Be sure to read about her performance in “Dark River“.  In the title, it seems to me that the word “capturing” should have been “rescuing” because the emphasis in the plot is  the help that the young compassionate doorman Joe gives to Mary.

Although the plot in “Joe’s Palace” was more captivating, the appeal of “Capturing Mary” is attention to detail and fine acting.  In some ways much of the film involves talking heads. Indeed this film is in no way an action film. Neither was “Joe’s Palace” an action film but there were scenes you might never forget.

So I won’t call this film a “DO NOT MISS”. However I will be sorry if you miss this fine film.

2009, Adultery, Amazon Prime, Anti-Semitism, Art Treasures, Attempted Suicide, British, Could Be Sad, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Ethical struggles, Explicit sex, Extramarital Affair, Father-son relations, Marital Infidelity, Nazis, Nudity, Womanizing

Joe’s Palace (2009)

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From Amazon Prime:

An empty London mansion casts a spell over an innocent young boy in this thought-provoking psychological drama.

From Amazon Prime you can stream this 1 hour 54 minute complete film. Incidentally, I found this film because Amazon suggests films that match films you have already watched, such as  “Dark River” which I discussed in my last review.

For most of this film I felt like a spectator in a “happening” of no particular importance.  Make no mistake, I found the details and characters fascinating. But always the question presented itself: But where is this all going?  Be prepared for a stunning and infuriating conclusion, as in “WOW!”

Venerable and famous British actor Michael Gambon plays perfectly a wealthy, brooding, lonely Elliot Graham. He hires young Joe Dix (played by Danny Lee Wynter) to be the doorman at one of Elliot’s perfectly maintained but uninhabited London residences. To my mind, the character Joe Dix is central to the story and steals the show. He presents a taciturn, uneducated, but principled young man whose mother found him this position. He speaks with a clipped lower class accent.

As a side character Rupert Penry-Jones plays the married womanizer Richard Reece having one of his many affairs with the also married Charlotte played by the beautiful Kelly Reilly.  As a side benefit to their subplot you can watch two “beautiful people” having quite a bit of sex.

DO NOT MISS!

 

 

 

2015, Amazon Prime, Drama, Explicit sex, Explicit sexual discussion, Gay theme, Nudity, Panic Attacks, Strange Ending

Steel (2015)

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From Amazon Prime:

Strong emotions – fear and panic, self-search and isolation, love and sex, self-denial and self-discovery – a ride on an emotional roller coaster while trying to find one’s way into life.

From Amazon Prime you can stream this 1 hour 47 minute film.

“Steel” is the story of a gay man Daniel who is a successful, seemingly self-confident TV interviewer but who increasingly is beset with serious panic attacks. Eventually these panic attacks become so overpowering that Daniel abandons his job (in the middle of a live TV interview with a criminal) and becomes a recluse who is even afraid to go outside and shop for food.  Along the way Daniel seems to be stalked by another very young gay man Alexander who boldly forces his way into Daniel’s troubled life.  How Alexander helps Daniel is most of the plot.

WARNING: Gay sexual activity is explicitly filmed. In addition there is much nudity.  Forget safe sex entirely.

Probably the end of this well-acted film will shock you into asking yourself “Could that be?”

2017, Alcoholism, British, Dark, Depression, Disturbing Image, Drama, Explicit sex, Farm Life, Father-son relations, Gay theme, Grim, Grungy, Mother-son relations, Netflix Streaming, Nudity, Personal Betrayal, Possibly depressing, Romance, Sex Scenes, Small British village, Yorkshire setting

God’s Own Country (2017)

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From IMDB:

Spring. Yorkshire. Young farmer Johnny Saxby numbs his daily frustrations with binge drinking and casual sex, until the arrival of a Romanian migrant worker for lambing season ignites an intense relationship that sets Johnny on a new path.

From Netflix you can stream this one hour 44 minute complete film.

Francis Lee won a Directing Award (World Cinema — Dramatic) at the Sundance Film Festival for this BAFTA-nominated film.

Yorkshire farming as vividly and unsparingly portrayed in this film shows what a grubby occupation such work really is.  No one it would seem gets to remain free of mucky mud for very long.

Meet the Saxby farming family: Johnny is the gay, lonely, desperate, dutiful son. Martin is the father now crippled by a stroke. Deirdre (played by the famous British actress Gemma Jones, who was 75 years old during the filming) is the mother.  What a cold, barely speaking trio they make! All the father does is bark out orders, despite his stroke impaired speech.  Affection does not fit into this unrelentingly grim world.

Lambing season arrives and so does the temporary Rumanian farm worker Gheorghe.  Watching Gheorghe do farm work is a pleasure. He seems to care about the “beasts” (as the family calls the animals). In one scene a lamb is born dead, which happens a lot. At the same time another newborn lamb needs a mother. So we watch (in unsparing detail) Gheorghe skin the dead lamb and wrap that skin around the orphan lamb so that the mother of the dead lamb will accept the orphan and allow it to feed.

As far as the gay theme goes,  the growing love between the two men is developed in remarkable subtlety.  Never in the film is it easy (or initially even possible) for Johnny to express himself openly. Johnny is probably one of the most repressed and inarticulate men you may ever encounter. Be prepared for full nudity and their initial somewhat violent sexual encounter.

To encourage you to enjoy this remarkable film I will reveal that the story, for all the intermittent setbacks, has a happy ending. So sue me for the mild spoiler!

 

2010, Acceptable for teenagers, Acorn TV, British, Bullying, Corny at times, Drama, Extramarital Affair, Father-son relations, Medical Theme, Melodrama, Miners, Mother-daughter relations, Racism, Romance, Small Town, Small Town Atmosphere, Smallpox, Suspense, Unmarried mother, Wales

The Indian Doctor (2010)

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From Acorn TV:

This uplifting and charming period drama from the BBC follows an Indian doctor (Sanjeev Bhaskar, Mumbai Calling) who moves to a small Welsh village in the early 1960s. As he and his upper class wife (Ayesha Dharker, Indian Summers) adjust to life in the mining town, they start to change the community–and the community changes them.

From Acorn TV you can stream three seasons of this series which is in the same genre as “Doc Martin”.  Each season has 5 episodes and each episode lasts about 43 minutes.

Eventually Dr. Prem Sharma and his wife Kamini Sharma with difficulty  fit into the small Welsh mining community.

Season 1 centers on Dr. Sharma fighting to get chest X-rays for the miners in order to detect black lung disease.

Season 2 is about a church minister whose belief that prayer can cure smallpox endangers the community.

Season 3 has Dr. Sharma working to defeat a hoax that will impoverish the town inhabitants.

If you have ever watched the wonderful British series “Unforgotten” then you will recognize Sanjeev Bhaskar (who plays Dr. Sharma) as DS ‘Sunny’ Khan who is the sidekick to DCI Cassie Stuart (played by Nicola Walker).

If you need a family-friendly series then you cannot go wrong with these 15 episodes.