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*spoilers*
Our Friends In the North is an exceptional drama mini-series that cleverly tells the history of 30 years of British politics through the mid-60's to the mid-90's from the perspectives of four wonderful characters. It is part soap opera but so what? Quality is surely all that matters and, just like the widely regarded Godfather trilogy, this is a wonderful study on family and friends. Regardless, Our Friends cannot be boxed into any one genre because its scope is so broad, encompassing themes that are wide and varied, dealing not only with political milestones such as the three day week and the miners strike but also with police corruption and Soho's pornographic industry. Admittedly there is quite a bit of 'It's year x, so this must be happening' (e.g. '1964? That'll be House of the Rising Sun methinks!') but for the most part I found that, like any history lesson, it was no bad thing as long as it was seamlessly added. Besides, complaining about probably the best ever television soundtrack must rate as one of the all time greatest IMDB nitpicks.
The most important and distinctive aspect of the soap opera elements is that we are not only able to witness the short-term consequences of people's actions but also the long-term consequences. Central to this is how closely all four of the central characters end up resembling their parents whom they had scorned years earlier. Perhaps a more heart-wrenching instance though, despite its inevitability, is the break up of Tosker and Mary's marriage after 15 years, Tosker unable to even muster the courage to tell his own young children why he is leaving.
Another significant difference is that Our Friends boasts some of the finest acting talent around. Christopher Eccleston, Daniel Craig and Gina McKee, all stars in the making, give breathtaking performances. Mark Strong, as Mary's dim but ambitious husband Tosker, drags the side down but only slightly. Eccleston does another fantastic job as Nicky Hutchinson, turning an unsympathetic character (snobby, opinionated, at times uncaring) into one whom the audience really cares for. We recognise his flaws from our own youths and we also empathise with the self-loathing that accompany all those early flaws in later life. The one big difference between Nicky and the others is that he is often aware of his flaws even when they're leading him down the wrong road. Mary (McKee), on the other hand, perhaps because she has a wheelchair bound younger brother, ends up living life as a martyr and it is only in the last episode when her son angrily points it out to her that she finally realises the truth of it. All four are decent in their own ways though and this not only makes their flaws forgivable but it also makes us care deeply for each one of them. That is particularly true of Geordie (Craig). Brought up in a dysfunctional family he nevertheless has an irresistible charm about him but is sadly far too easily led and ends up paying a high price for his naivety in cutthroat London. He never recovers even though, against all odds, he does see the series to its end. His time in Soho is gripping, giving us a rare glimpse into a seedy yet fascinating society ruled by the equally charming porn baron Benny Barrett (Malcolm McDowell). McDowell's character, arguably not only the best of this series but also of his accomplished career, is a fantastic one being totally at odds with the usual foul-mouthed hard man associated with this type of role. He's not the only British veteran to turn in a marvellous performance though. Peter Vaughn plays Nicky's father Felix, once a voice of the people but now cynical of everything associated with politics after years of broken promises. Vaughn is amazing in the early episodes but even more so latterly as an Alzheimer's sufferer. It's a gruesome site, not only witnessing Felix's sad plight but also seeing how difficult it is for Nicky to handle, particularly his sudden realisation that it is already too late to mend a relationship that has never been on the best of terms.
Our Friends then does at times offer up a pretty depressing view of our own existence particularly as the characters get older. The ideals that most of them harbour in their youths invariably lead to crushing disappointment and subsequent diversion towards the paths of least resistance. To illustrate this point further the conformist majority almost always outgun the likes of P.C. Roy Johnson who retain their principles into old age. So yes, it is a drama that makes it clear that life is tough with no clear-cut resolutions. However if there is one positive aspect to take from this then it is to realise that we should make the most of our times with those whom we love and cherish. Even if it doesn't send that message across to you personally then it shouldn't really matter because, despite its world weary stance, this is nevertheless great entertainment, beautifully told, wonderfully written, fabulously directed and endlessly watchable thanks to having a cast of characters to die for. Far from being the Emperors' New Clothes' of British TV it is actually the knight in shining armour that restored not only my own faith but a lot of other peoples faith in what seemed to be a dying medium.
score /10
garethm-2 22 March 2004
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw0376932/ |
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17-1-2021 11:17:03