MY POLICEMAN (2022)
Starring Harry Styles, Emma Corrin, Gina McKee, Linus Roache, David Dawson, Rupert Everett, Kadiff Kirwan, Emily John, Dora Davis, Joseph Potter, Richard Dempsey, Jae Alexander, Freya Mavor, Sean Jackson, Maddie Rice, Richard Cant, Chris Ma, Lucy Briers, Jack Bandeira, Gareth Kennerley, John Sandeman, Nicolas Tennant, Charlotte Randle and Patrick Brennan.
Screenplay by Ron Nyswaner.
Directed by Michael Grandage.
Distributed by Amazon Studios. 113 minutes. Rated R.
With a heart wrenching love triangle, the challenge of societal norms, and beautifully saturated seaside views, My Policeman is a forbidden love story for the ages.
The story takes place during two different timelines. The first is sometime during the 1990s and the second in the 1950s. Marion Burgess (Gina McKee) and Tom Burgess (Linus Roache) live in a charming seaside residence, the pair being two parts of an anything-but-charming marriage.
The ongoing subconscious feud between the couple is brought to light when Tom arrives home to see that Marion has brought in a guest to stay with them, an old friend Patrick (though it is clear that “old friend” is a loose term for Tom). This angers Tom and he storms out of the house, leaving Marion to care for their sick and crippled guest.
Mostly depicted in flashbacks from the trio’s younger years, a love story is illustrated – actually two love stories. First, we are shown the blossoming relationship between young Marion (Emma Corrin) and young Tom (Harry Styles). Much to my surprise, Marion and Tom’s relationship was once pure, innocent, and loving.
The couple seemed to grow closer and closer until another love story begins revealing itself. This is that of young Tom and young Patrick (David Dawson.) As Tom and Patrick’s relationship is fueled with the fires of passion, intimacy, and secrecy, Tom and Marion’s relationship begins to dim.
Aside from the tale itself, the visuals we are presented with are magnificent. Ben Davis’ cinematography in this film captures the essence of each timeline, using nature, lighting, shadow, and temperature to aid in telling the story.
The clear contrast in lighting and color between the 1950s and the 1990s is so telling of the innocence, hope, and longing followed by the lack thereof as time slips out of the threesome’s hands. The warmth and luminescence of scenes that took place in the 50s are reminiscent of brighter days, enveloping me in feelings of nostalgia. The melancholia and shadows of the 90s scenes cast a longing shadow over the tone of the film, effectively highlighting the development of the two love stories over the last 40 years.
What makes My Policeman the alluring film that it is is not only its incredible cast but the fact that it is the untold truth of thousands of queer people over the years. The abominable way that queer individuals were treated in the 1950s is illustrated accurately in this story, making it that much more heartbreaking. This is such an important story for anyone who feels ashamed about their feelings to see so that they know that they are valid, worthy, and deserving of love.
Michael Grandage did a phenomenal job of bringing Bethan Roberts’ novel to life, even the TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey agrees. Stars Emma Corrin, David Dawson, Harry Styles, Linus Roache, Gina McKee, and Rupert Everett were awarded the TIFF Tribute award for their roles in the film at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival. I can absolutely see My Policeman racking up the nominations in the coming awards season.
If you haven’t already, check out My Policeman in theaters on October 21st and streaming on Amazon Prime on November 4th.
Kayla Marra
Copyright ©2022 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: October 22, 2022.