Change Your Image
citizen-king
Reviews
Gogol (2017)
Excellent Russian series. Give it a go if you like gothic tales.
Thoroughly enjoyed this series. In fact, I enjoyed it more the further on it got. I'd love there to have been a second season, but it doesn't look as though there is. (Despite the final episode appearing to offer a trailer for one). Yes, it's subtitled, but don't let that put you off.
There is a wide range of characters revolving around the eponymous lead, most of whom are initially presented as 'local yokels', but soon become more than that. Indeed, some of them are quite surprisingly so. Gogol's fainting spells are at first a bit of a thing, but thankfully he's able to overcome them as the plot moves along. It is very gothic in mood, and with various different aspects coming to light it's difficult to know which are the red herrings. Friends become foes and vice versa, but not in a fast or flashy manner. Who is the killer? Is the child with a tail a witch? Why is the ghost following Gogol? Why are the killings repeating after 30 years? There are lots of questions that need answering, and it all helps to draw you on.
There is a small amount of partial nudity, but it's not done gratuitously, it fits with the time and place. There is also some killing, head lopping, etc, but again, it goes with the territory, and is not overly gory. I knew nothing of this series prior to finding it on Amazon, and it didn't disappoint.
The Rochdale Pioneers (2012)
The Co-op. Not just good for food.
This was never meant to trouble the BAFTA members. Hope that's not a spoiler for anyone. I enjoyed this because it was educational and related the story of how one of Britain's stalwart retail chains came into being. It wasn't just an early attempt to make us all customers, but the beginning of an attempt at greater social equality. Apart from two well-known faces, I didn't recognise any of the actors, so I'd guess they were amateurs. Ditto the production staff, too.
So don't approach this film expecting Hollywood standards; walk away if that's all you want. If you want to see a film about working folk pulling together against the naysayers, put together by non-professionals battling similarly, you've come to the right place. You get a sense of what this meant to the factory workers of mid 19th century Rochdale, and what they believed and gave up for a chance to attain it.
Ignore the low score and give it a chance if you get the chance. Thanks Film on Four for my chance.