I am a writer living in Melbourne who loves to devour culture and the arts. Visit me at www.pumptheatre.com.au
Published March 23rd 2023
A sweet story with a sinister twist and an all star cast
The one movie you must see this Autumn is Allelujah.
Jennifer Saunders as Sister Gillpin – photo courtesy of Transmission Films
Allelujah is based on the play written by Alan Bennett and adapted for the screen by Heidi Thomas. Directed by Richard Eyre the film is set in 'The Bethlehem' hospital (circa 1897) in Yorkshire England.
Jesse Akele as Nurse Pinkney – photo courtesy of Transmission Films
Fondly known as 'The Beth' by staff and volunteers, the hospital specialises in caring for the elderly, mostly patients with dementia. 'The Beth' is portrayed as a caring and joyful place for patients - with lots of different activities on offer like 'music', reminiscence' and 'art' therapy to make them feel more at home.
'The Beth' choir – photo courtesy of Transmission Films
Dr Valentine (Bally Gill) opens the film by sharing his personal philosophy of why he cares for the aged. He simply 'loves old people' and makes it his vocation to provide quality care for them. He is cast like a 'guardian angel' with great empathy and the ability to connect even with the most fragile patient.
Bally Gill as Dr.Valentine – photo courtesy of Transmission Films
Sister Gilpin (Jennifer Saunders) is the rough diamond, at the helm of 'The Beth'. She appears hard, orderly, pragmatic, and sensible. Her main concern is finding beds to fit all the patients and keeping the place clean and tidy. As you can imagine, there are a lot of challenges keeping an aged care home 'spick and span' and incontinence reigns supreme - much to the embarrassment and discomfort of the patients.
Jessica Saunders as Sister Gilpin – photo courtesy of Transmission Films
The Chair of the Board decides to launch a media campaign and invite videographers to 'The Beth' to record first-hand experiences of the patients. There are some very funny moments during this process.
One of the newer patients is Mary Moss (played by Dame Judi Dench) who is a very shy retired librarian with a fascination for marginalia (handwritten notes by readers in the margins of books). Mary is not keen on sharing her story on camera, so Dr Valentine gives her an iPad so she can document her own experience of the hospital.
Judi Dench as Mary Moss – photo courtesy of Transmission Films
David Bradley and Robert Tovey play father (Joe Colman) and son (Colin Colman) in Allelujah. Mr Joe Colman is a widow, he is stoic, a bit of a 'bad boy' and continues to wear his wedding ring despite it cutting off circulation in his fingers.
His son Colin is an advisor to the Health Minister and this of course is in direct conflict with closing the hospital which is caring for his father. The relationship is fragile between them and takes interesting twists and turns in the film, from annoyance to defiance, to love, tenderness and appreciation. There is a beautiful scene where Mr Joe Colman dances with Sister Gilpin.
David Bradley as Joe Colman – photo courtesy of Transmission Films
Derek Jacobi plays Ambrose Hammersley who is a retired academic and spends days in bed reading books. He has a few female patients on the ward who are keen to pursue a relationship with him, much to his annoyance. Dr Valentine and Ambrose share a love of literature. Ambrose asks Dr Valentine to read out aloud a poem about 'the last visitor who has no name' which reveals its meaning at the end of the film.
Allelujah challenges us to question how we care for elderly people, whether it's our parents, a relative or a friend - and what will happen to us when we are old, or lose our autonomy.
Derek Jacobi as Ambrose Hammersley– photo courtesy of Transmission Films
The film is also a tribute to the National Health Service which celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2023, and Dr Valentine delivers a touching monologue at the end of the film about why people go into the caring profession, clearly acknowledging the heroes and heroines who worked tirelessly during the coronavirus pandemic.
Dame Judi Dench as Mary Moss – photo courtesy of Transmission Films
Most of all Allelujah asks us 'what is the value of life' and 'what is the value that older people bring to our community'. The film also focuses on the decisions made for persons in care by third parties and their motivations. Whether it's children who are waiting for a parent to die to receive an inheritance or a Health Minister who looking to rationalise the system or a young caring doctor who believes every individual has something to contribute to the greater good at all stages of their life.
As soon as I saw Judi Dench and Jennifer Saunders in the list of cast members, I knew I'd need to watch this! You've critiqued the film really well that I am keen to see this now. I love a good movie.
