ROADKILL
UK, 2020, 240 minutes, Colour.
Hugh Laurie, Helen Mc Crory, Sarah Greene, Millie Brady, Sidse Babette Knudson, Saskia Reeves, Patricia Hodge.
Directed by Michael Keillor.
The successful limited series for television, written by celebrated playwright and political commentator and observer, David Hare.
The focus is on parliamentarians, ambitions and careers, rivalries and threats to the Prime Minister. In the present scenario, it is a female Prime Minister, played by Helen McCrory?, shrewd in her way, but betrayed by advisors and intrigues and brought down by rival ambitions.
At the centre of the drama is a parliamentarian played by Hugh Laurie (who made the transition from successful comedian to dramatic performer in House and such series as The Night Manager). While the film focuses on his political career and ambitions, it also focuses on scandals in his life, opening with his being acquitted in a court case questioning his integrity and finances. He finds comfort in a mistress, his alienated from his two daughters, tries, at times, to make up to his wife. But, he is always open to exposure.
The journalist who instigated the case against him in court gets permission from a newspaper to go to the United States to further investigate, leading to organisations of friendship between Britain and the United States, her getting documentary evidence against the politician, her being run down in the street.
The political intrigues are intriguing for the audience throughout the series, twists and turns, but especially concerning the politician discovering that he has a daughter, mixed race, who is serving a term in prison, especially while he is Minister for prisons. There is a sequence where he goes on television, admitting all its faults, acknowledging his daughter – which brings some acclaim. It also brings him an ultimate success – but at what price? And how securely?
Direction is by Michael Killor who directed a court significant number of television series, starting with These tenders, and including C.B.Strike. There is a top range of British actors in supporting roles.
1. The title? As applied to Peter Laurence and his behaviour, his political drive and ambition, victims?
2. Television series, four episodes, written by David Hare, his reputation over the decades, political perspectives? Analysis of human nature?
3. The British setting, London, the courts, parliament, Prime Minister’s office, homes, prison, business offices? The sequences in Washington, different views of the city? The musical score?
4. The series as a portrait of Peter Laurence, Hugh Laurie’s presence and performance? First seeing him emerging from the court, the libel case, his risk, his winning the case, his political adviser always present, the taxi, going to visit the Prime Minister, her office and her constant assistant? The discussions? His expecting a promotion? A different promotion?
5. The Prime Minister, aspects of Margaret Thatcher, her tenuous hold, Julia, advice, the threats to her prime ministership, her interviews and assuring her place, the using Peter
Laurence? The move against her, losing her position?
6. Peter Laurence, his background, ordinary beginnings, business and success, finance, his wife, her continued faithfulness, his two daughters, their personalities, alienated, criticisms? His return home, his daughter setting up the meeting, the other daughter coming from the Arctic? The confrontations? The revelation of his mistress? His wife and her musical work, the Messiah, the family present, the photos?
7. Charmian, her changing her evidence, going to the editor, the huge payment by the paper, her pleading her case, her going to Washington, the investigations, the contacts, the information, the British and American alliance, shady dealings, Peter Laurence and his presence in Washington, allegedly in New York with his wife at the theatre, finding the contact who would speak, the tape-recording? Her being run down on the street, her death?
8. Madeleine, Peter helping her at a time of trouble, the relationship, her love for him, his dependence on her, the visits, his using her, the final clash and break?
9. The contact from the prison, the interview with the young woman, the revelation about his daughter, unsure? His being put in charge of prisons? His interventions, press releases, ambitions for change? The meeting with his daughter, identifying her mother, her financial fraud in prison sentence? His meeting the mother?
10. The newspapers, the proprietor from Scotland, the discussions?
11. The lawyer, her winning the case, her being bothered, her assistant? The investigations, recovering the tape? The issue of the papers, their not wanting to risk publishing the news, the proprietor and her forbidding it?
12. Julia, her advice to the Prime Minister, her liaison with Peter Laurence’s assistant, information and leaks? Each of them ambitious?
13. Peter Laurence and his discussions with the officials of the Tory party, the meeting, their knowing him, the issue of the payment, the drugs and the national health? The offshore bank? His wanting his wife to sign the document? The irony of her not doing it, her hold over him?
14. The car, the injury, the roadkill? The confrontation with his family?
15. His television interview, his speaking frankly about himself, about his family, about his daughter? Her listening in prison? The family watching? His seeming frankness, honesty with the interviewer? But a calculated interview?
16. The prime minister losing her job, the ballot, his winning, Downing Street, his wife with him? Ambition fulfilled? Yet the tenuous hold over his position?
