Film Review: My Policeman

My Policeman and wasted time

Michael Grandage’s heavily anticipated movie My Policeman, released in the UK and US across limited theatres on October 21st, finally made its Amazon Prime Video debut worldwide on November 4th. The story follows three characters, Tom, Marion and Patrick over two time periods, the 50s, and the 90s, in England.

Based on the book by Bethan Roberts, this story remained in the underbelly of pop culture until it was picked up to be made into a movie. Harry Styles became the turning point when he was spotted with the book in 2019, raising brows and turning some hardcore fans to read the book. Things picked up the pace when it was confirmed that he was signed on to play the title character, Tom, the policeman, and eyes were turned on to the project.

The film debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival and received its first award – for the ensemble cast. Harry Styles and Linus Roache play Tom, the policeman this story revolves around, over the two time periods. Emma Corrin and Gina McKee play Marion and David Dawson and Rupert Everett portray Patrick.

The acting is splendid. Styles does a wonderful job of showing curiosity, vulnerability, fear, and love – all that comes with youth. A few scenes stand out wonderfully, showcasing his acting ability to the world. He leaves no doubts about his prowess. Roache takes the mantle of Tom forward, and in a subtle way shows us the mannerisms of Tom, right from the expressions to the hand movements, gait, and even the toughness in his jaw.

All of the characters have a great span of development over the time period, but none more than Marion. Corrin’s young schoolteacher shows infatuation and attraction towards Tom and is a clear reflection of the product of the society she was born and lived in. McKee takes it to a different plane entirely, leaving behind her way of thinking and embracing modernity and new thought. She brings warmth and empathy to the character, giving Marion the depth that is needed for a character that is very much in the grey.

Without giving too much away, Patrick is the one to suffer the most, both in his youth and old age. Dawson shows every feeling in a way that the viewer feels it as deeply as the character, the good and the bad. Everett gives a superior performance to all, despite having the least amount of dialogue due to the stroke his character suffered in old age.

The way these actors work with each other, both the young trio and the older, truly creates magic on the screen. There are multiple dynamics to be explored, and yet the flaws of each of them are apparent as day. There are aspects of the book that the movie has not included, however, the storytelling remains unhampered, creating a film that never lags, slows down or bores.

In fact, not a single frame is remotely boring. The sounds, background score, lighting, locations and sets transport you to a different world entirely, showing the differences between the 50s and the 90s in a subtle way, yet every detail has been paid attention to.

My Policeman could be touted as a tragedy, considering the discrimination, pain, and suffering endured by homosexuals being the key part of the story. Yet, there is a stillness, a hope, and so much love. In a world where love feels fleeting and superficial to the youth, this story delivers to us the hope of finding something that is unmoving and undulating, even over a period as large as forty years.

The final scene has just about every person sobbing, yet the soft piano music at the end credits creates a sense of hope. Hope for the characters’ future, and our own.