ANTHONY

UK, 2020, 86 minutes, Colour.

Tohib Jimoh, Bobby Schofield, Stephanie Hyam, Julia Brown, Rakie Ayloa.

Directed by Terry McDonough.

An immediate recommendation for this moving film made for television is the fact that it was written by Jimmy McGovern. For several decades, Jimmy McGovern has written outstanding work for the cinema (Priest, Liam) and for television (Cracker, Broken).

As with most of his material, the film is set in Liverpool, the atmosphere of Merseyside. The initial setting is 2005 with the information about the death of Anthony Walker. However, it moves to an awards dinner, hosted by Richard Osman (and, later, playfully, there will be a scene during the making of television’s Pointless where Anthony will propose to his fiancee on set). An award is made in his name, to his friend Michael, a man with a stammer who then announces the award should go to Anthony himself.

At this stage, the structure of the film goes in reverse time, from Anthony at 25, back each year to his age 18. The premise of the film is that it dramatises what Anthony’s life might have been like had he not been killed. Episodes in the reverse tale show his social work, his discovery of his friend Michael begging in the streets, challenging him, bringing him home, discussions with his wife. There is a scene of the birth of the child which takes place during a train journey. There is a wedding sequence, Michael invited to be best man despite his stammer, his agreeing, but his drinking and failing. There is the ritual of the wedding, comparatively long for the film, the vows and promises, the rings, as well as the dance celebration afterwards.

There is the scene of the proposal during Pointless, scenes of Anthony with his devoted mother, a strong religious woman. We see Anthony volunteering for work with youth, pleading for a player not to go on detention, Catherine being his teacher, hard at first, then relenting, and dating Anthony.

Anthony also goes for an interview to get a position in a law firm, succeeding. However, he is the victim of racist attitudes, defended by Michael who becomes a friend, but, ultimately, out with friends they are insulted in the street, run, a bus not stopping, going into a park, an assault, Anthony hit with an ice pick, to hospital, his mother attending his bedside after praying powerfully with the nurse, his death.

There is a recapitulation of his life that might have been, a highlighting the results and absences because he did not live.

1. The title, the focus on Anthony, the information about his death?
2. The structure of the film, the focus on the award, Anthony at 25, the screenplay going back year by year to the age of 18? His final year? His death? The film telling the story of what he might have been (and the recapitulation at the end?
3. Jimmy McGovern’s career, film writing, television writing, Merseyside and Liverpool, social issues? Personal issues? Religious atmosphere?
4. Anthony, at age 25, the dinner, Richard Osman sharing (and the reference to Anthony proposing to Catherine during an episode of Pointless)? The award, Michael coming, present with his wife, stammer, not making speeches, in making the award to Anthony himself? The applause?
5. Going back over Anthony’s possible life, the encounter with Michael in the street, begging, confronting him, the threat of the police, Catherine agreeing that Anthony bring him home, the visit to his wife, seeing the children, the story of his drinking, and his begging? Anthony persuading him to come home, the meal, the offer of care?
6. The train ride, Catherine pregnant, waters breaking, the search for a doctor or nurse, the nurse volunteering, the impact of the birth, the daughter, everybody celebrating? Anthony’s mother coming, her devotion?
7. The wedding, the preparations, Michael asked to be best man, agreeing, hesitation, drinking, failing, the phone call? The ceremony itself, the congregation, the outdoor setting, the Minister, the vows and promises, the children with the rings? The celebration, entry, speeches, the dancing? Anthony’s encounter with his absent father?
8. Anthony, volunteering as a coach, the sports, his love for basketball, the boy in detention, his approaching Catherine, the phone calls negative, on the field, her giving in, the outing, conversation, at home, the tentative kiss?
9. Anthony’s mother, constant presence, her husband leaving her, the children at home, her prayer of thank you, going into the church? And her prayer with the nurse for Anthony?
10. Anthony, the three men taunting, the criticisms, Michael coming to his defence? The issues of racism?
11. Anthony, legal ambitions, to go to the US, civil rights, the interview, talking about defence, calm, fighting? His fearing that he would be rejected? As mother’s affirmation? The phone call and acceptance?
12. Anthony, criticising his sister for her dress? His going out, friends, across the street, the taunt from the racist man, the running, the bus not stopping, in the park, the group attacking, the ice pick, Anthony wounded, the couple helping him, the ambulance, phoning his mother? Her going to the hospital, the explanations, praying with the nurse, her recapitulation event in his life and values? Sitting with him, his death, coming home and telling the children?
13. The recapitulation of what might have been, the job, the law, meeting Catherine, marrying her, their child, helping Michael – but all that failing, including Michael dead?
14. The invitation to audience understanding of Anthony, his family and life? Hopes? Race issues in the UK? And empathy for the characters?