TWO GRAVES
UK, 2019, 80 minutes, Colour.
David Hayman, Josh Herdman, Katie Jarvis, Kedar Williams- Stirling, Cathy Tyson, Danielle Harold, Dave Johns, Neal Ward, Shantelle Rochester, Jonathan Rhodes.
Directed by Gary Young.
Two Graves takes place in an ugly area of a British city. The film focuses on the streets, a warehouse, a pub…
At the centre of the film is a doctor, Margaret, a rare performance by British actress, Cathy Tyson (who made such an impact in Mona Lisa, who also appeared in Priest). Her son, a recovering addict, has been killed. She is informed by another addict, Zoe, reformed, that the son of a local gangster tycoon has been responsible. They carry out a plan to abduct the son, injecting him to get the truth from him. It does not work out that way at all.
There are complications in so far as it is revealed that the son was the gay partner of Margaret’s son, did not kill her son, but, rather, it was his homophobic and disgusted father.
Zoe has a plan to extort money from the gangster by abducting his son and uses Margaret and her grief. There is a further complication with Zoe’s boyfriend who wants to be in on the money, treats her brutally, injects her with heroin again after her being drug-free for some years, having followed a 12 steps program.
The film also focuses on two security guards at the warehouse, especially an older man, genial, George, played by Dave Johns – who was notable in the title role of Ken Loach’s I, Daniel Blake.
David Hayman is the gangster. Katie Jarvis is Zoe.
This is an immersion in an ugly world – and, more than two graves will be needed.
1. The title? British grim drama? The drug world, dealers, users and addicts? 12-step meetings? The world of prostitutes and customers?
2. The city, the streets, pubs, warehouses? The ugly aspects of the city? Musical score?
3. The opening, the introduction to the characters, the 12 steps, addiction? The text of the steps being repeated throughout the film? Especially at the end and Zoe’s death?
4. The focus on the drugs, Margaret, her son and his addiction, treatment, his death? The son of the gangster lord being with him? Zoe testifying against him, urging on Margaret? The plan, to get the truth, abducting him, holding him in the warehouse, demanding the truth, the injection, the cutting off of his finger? Zoe forcing Margaret? Her being urged on by Teddy, eventually tying up both the son and Margaret? The truth, the gay relationship, the intervention of the father, the murder? Margaret and the son getting free?
5. Zoe, her addiction, her past life? Unscrupulous? Setting up Margaret? Setting up the son? The full story? Phoning for the ransom? Teddy wanting into it, his treatment of her?
6. Tom, gangster tycoon, in the pub, his racist outburst and violence? The phone call, Zoe’s demands, contacting his wife, going to the suppliers for the money, the fact that they were the police, the deal and interest? His wife collecting the money, going in the car, making the contact with Zoe? Showing the money? her being urged to go round the corner to wait? Her husband following, with his gun? The shooting in danger? Getting back his son, his disgust at his son, gay issues? His son’s death? Teddy and his being shot? Zoe and her being shot, the money with the blood blowing in the wind?
7. Margaret, her story, serving in the military, her pregnancy, her son, his addictions, the gay relationship? Her wanting the truth, the treatment of the gangster’s son, the interrogation, his finger? Roles reversed? Her disillusionment about what had happened?
8. The security guard, George, genial, Barry, lazy, seeing the prostitute, bringing her in, the encounter, the payment? His being out of contact? George, hearing the shots, on surveillance, the confrontation, his being killed?
9. Tom, his role, confronting his son, his death?
10. Barry and Leanne, looking for George, finding the bodies in the street, gathering up the money, warning it?
11. The irony of the police arriving, their being moneylenders, taking in Barry and Leanne?
12. Two graves – and many more?
