My Policeman *** (2022, Harry Styles, Emma Corrin, Gina McKee, Linus Roache, David Dawson, Rupert Everett) – Movie Review

Director Michael Grandage’s 2022 romantic love triangle drama film My Policeman is based on the 2012 novel by Bethan Roberts, with a screenplay by Ron Nyswaner.

Harry Styles does well despite unusual casting as gay policeman Tom Burgess, who marries schoolteacher Marion Taylor (Emma Corrin) despite his relationship with museum curator Patrick Hazlewood (David Dawson), in late 1950s Brighton.

Forty years later, still nothing is resolved, as the old, stroke-afflicted Patrick (Rupert Everett) is wheeled into the home of the old Marion (Gina McKee) and Tom (Linus Roache). Marion is doing her best to look after Patrick and keep him out of a care home and away from cigarettes, while Tom won’t even see him and wants him out of his house.

As the story shifts back and forwards through the two eras, prompted by Marion finding Patrick’s old diaries, the truth behind all the secrets and lies eventually emerges, and resolution is finally in sight. The story doesn’t ever look as though it is going to have a happy ending, and it can’t. But, in a way, it kind of does. OK, it’s a bitter-sweet ending, but that’s very welcome and surprisingly moving and satisfying.

The film has got a lot to say about the appalling oppression and ghastly treatment of gay people in the Fifties. So, good. It’s important to remember, never forget. Silence is death. Maybe none of this is very subtle, but maybe it doesn’t really need to be. Because it is British, the film is more tasteful and romantic and sentimental than it needs to be, but not too much. It is a very good, commendable enterprise, worth anyone’s time and consideration.

Casting Harry Styles was risky, for the knives would be out for his acting, but his low-key, internal turmoil performance works very well, and he has good rapport with both Emma Corrin and David Dawson, who are very strong. Gina McKee and Linus Roache are strong too as the old Marion Taylor and the old Tom Burgess. There can be no complaints about the acting. Rupert Everett has a totally thankless task as the old Patrick Hazlewood. It is brave of him to do this, but it is extremely sad to see him looking like this, even allowing for the old man makeup.

Principal photography began in April 2021.The production values are high, affording a side trip to Venice with a whole new crew, as well as visits to the Royal Opera House and across London, and of course Brighton, Hove and Peacehaven. In Hove, filming took place at The Regency Town House in Brunswick Square for the wedding scene. It has a good Fifties and Nineties period feel.

The cast are Harry Styles as young Tom Burgess, Emma Corrin as young Marion Taylor, Gina McKee as Marion Taylor, Linus Roache as Tom Burgess, David Dawson as young Patrick Hazlewood and Rupert Everett as Patrick Hazlewood.

The final shot is given to Gina McKee as Marion Taylor, so apparently it is her story, free at last. So it is not a gay film after all. Or is it?

© Derek Winnert 2022 Movie Review

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