Wednesday 19 April 2017

Film: 'Another Mother's Son'.

I felt I'd had more than my fill of WWII films and was going to bypass this for that reason. Not that I find them 'boring' as such, rather being made to see the endlessly repeated depictions of Nazi brutality upsets me more and more as I age. I don't need the reminding of what went on. Perhaps younger generations do. 
However, this film has an infrequently documented angle to it: viz the fact the Channel Islands was the only British territory which was occupied by the Third Reich. 

It's based on a - would you credit it? - true story of Lou Gould (Jenny Seagrove in a towering performance), a grocer's shop owner who has just lost her husband fighting in the war - or was it her son, thereby giving greater weight and poignancy to the film's title?
She takes in and hides an escaped Russian POW (Julian Kostov) who was one of a contingent of beaten up and starving prisoners brought to the island of Jersey to perform menial and arduous physical work. She gets him cleaned and tidied up, bushy beard shaved off, and gets him dressed in inconspicuous everyday clothes.
Although he speaks no English he must be a fast learner as the story starts in 1942 and by the next year he's already conversing in that language!

 The story involves anonymous snoopers who report suspicious activities to the German occupiers, presumably in return for favours - and John Hannah, working on the postal service tries to intercept and destroy these messages. There's also Ronan Keating (one-time lead singer of 'Boyzone') in probably his first major serious role in a feature film - as well as the living legend, Susan Hampshire, whom, I must admit, I'd forgotten was in the cast and whom I failed to recognise.  

It's a very serious film (directed by Christopher Menaul), not many laughs, shot entirely in appropriately subdued colours. The story is moving - though it's Jenny Seagrove in the main role who really carries the film with her subtly nuanced, highly professional performance. 

I don't have any regrets that I decided to see this though I'd now prefer to wait a long while before I see yet another war film. Oh, wait a minute. There's Christopher Nolan's 'Dunkirk' coming over the horizon soon, so I'll have to make an exception for that. In fact I've got great hopes for it, with starry cast and all - even though reports are that it's spectacularly harrowing.

However, for 'Another Mother's Son'.................6.5.

12 comments:

  1. Sounds interesting Ray. I've always liked these World War II films although, like you, as I age I prefer to see less of Nazi atrocities, especially graphic depictions as are so often in these films. I'll check this one out. Thanks!
    Ron

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    1. There's actually only a couple of short scenes featuring Nazi brutality, Ron, and I've seen very much worse than this, so you needn't prepare yourself to be too shocked. Otherwise it's an absorbing tale.

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  2. 6.5 is high praise I think I will look to put this on my list. Have you read the book The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society?

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    1. I've not heard of it, Sol, though I assume it has a similar background to this film?

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    2. the islanders meet together under the proviso that they are a reading group whilst under occupation. It is a really quick read.

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    3. I'll bear it in mind, Sol, especially as it sounds like it'll easily fit into my planned reading schedule.

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  3. forgot to say The Durrells is back on tv tonight I think channel 3

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    1. You've lost me on this as well, Sol. Never seen 'The Durrells' and haven't a clue what it's about. More connection to the Channel Islands in wartime?

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    2. its an interwar programme a lady whose husband has died moves herself and her children to Greece from England to start fresh. its a gentle programme. lovely period dresses.

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    3. I switched into it now and again last night, Sol, while watching a BBC4 prog on the sun. From what I saw it looked reasonable enough but I'm not keen on serials or even series where there's an obligation, however slight, that one tunes in again the following week. Not really into being tied down in my TV obligations. Nevertheless the fact that you like it is noteworthy enough to remember it for future reference.

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  4. I just wanted to say I stop by regularly to read but since I never see the films I don't leave comment. But I enjoy hearing about them and appreciate your work.

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    1. Yes, I do remember you saying so, Dr Spo, and it's often in the back of my mind as I write. Your mere reading of my posts is appreciated.

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