TIME

UK, 2021, 3X 55 minutes, Colour.

Sean Bean, Stephen Graham, Jack McMullen, Siobhan Finneran,, Sue Johnston, David Calder, Hannah Walters.

Directed by Lewis Arnold.

This is a very impressive television series, covering three episodes. When audiences see the name of Jimmy McGovern as the writer, they will be reassured, remembering his writing for almost 30 years, the film, Priest, various series like Cracker, and the impressive story of a priest in Liverpool, played by Sean Bean, Broken.

Commentators note McGovern’s Catholicism and his pervading themes of guilt and redemption.

This is a prison film, Sean Bean playing Mark, sentenced to prison after knocking down a cyclist and killing him, drunk. He has gone to the police, surrendering, accepting his sentence. Interestingly, dramatically, the flashbacks to this incident are kept till the third episode. Mark is a teacher, was alcoholic, has given up alcohol, goes through the procedures in prison, shares a cell with some young prisoners, attempting some help, but victimised by some of the bullies and an attempt at constant conscript in him to make drug contacts.

In the meantime, there is also a focus on one of the prison guards, Eric, played effectively by Stephen Graham. His son is in prison, has been bashed, and Eric gets his son transferred to another prison for his safety – but, the safety has a price, the main dealer amongst the prisoners pressurises him to bring drugs into the prison. And, for the most part successful, his wife understanding what he’s doing, but his prisoner son rather shocked. Eventually, his superiors put two and two together and Eric is arrested and tried, sentenced but allowing for his otherwise impeccable reputation as a guard.

There are portraits of other guards, and of many of the prisoners, one of Mark’s cellmates suicidal, the other brooding over the person he killed. There is also a nun, a prison chaplain, who organises a meeting between the young man and the parents of the man he killed, an attempt a restorative justice, but not successful.

On the human level, Mark’s wife has left him and wants to remarry, has been keeping his teenage son from him though he visits his father in prison and talk to him on the phone. He also has visits from his sympathetic parents, and news that his father has had a stroke but is prevented from phoning him, the chaplain making all the contacts, arranging for Mark to go to his funeral. This is stopped because his cellmate had allegedly discarded a phone but had hidden it in a computer. Mark is partly blamed. However, he writes a eulogy which is rid of the Gen and here in the prison chaplain have quite ceremonies together in the chapel.

The third part of the series focuses on the funeral, on Mark being sent to address a group interested in restorative justice, his refusing to make the drug connection during his journey, and is bashed. However, he maintains his integrity. By contrast, Eric then is arrested and sentenced.

There is a postscript where Mark means the meets the wife of the man he killed, unable to forgive him, but saying that she would try for the future.

A very strong portrait of prison life, criticisms of the management of prison life – but the portrait of two men, situations, guilt, breaking the law, sentenced, possibilities for redemption.

1. The impact as a miniseries? Themes, performances, issues?
2. The prison setting, entering into the prison, the van, the interviews, examinations, clothes, to cells, the period of induction, permanent cells? Life in the cells, the shared cell? The gatherings, the meals and lineup, issues and drama? The contrast with the police officer, his home, suburbia, driving to work, his duties, supervision, boss? The chaplain and the meetings? The violent sequences? The musical score?
3. The initial focus on Mark, his age, background as a teacher, manners, dangerous driving, for years, entering into the prison, the cell, the experience with Bernard, erratic behaviour and talk, cutting himself, calling the authorities, his later return, suicide? The ordinary way of life, the guards, calling them boss, going down to lunch, bullying, the prisoner snatching his bread roll, same prisoner cutting off of the phone? His phone call to his wife, her estrangement? Phone call to his parents, concern about his son? The regulations about not talking with him or his visiting the prison? His parents coming to visit him, the support?
4. Prison brutality, the prison guard, the story of his son, the threats in prison, he and his wife visiting him, the transfer, the prisoner brutalising him, the guards physical attack, the revelation that they knew where the son had been transferred?
5. The prison chaplain, the nun, her appearance, talk, inviting Mark to the meeting?
6. Eric and his son, transferred to the next prison, yet the inmates knowing what had happened, the news of his son being bashed, Eric and his wife going to see their son? His decision to collaborate with Jackson, the rendezvous, collecting the drugs, delivering them, their being distributed, the prisoners using them? The guards and dealing with erratic cases? Eric, his wife, his being trapped, further drug deliveries?
7. Mark, the continued brutal treatment, Jackson and his advice, getting Mark to punch his hands, the taking of the food, the fight, Mark biting his opponent’s ear? Before the authorities, Mark saying it was friendly banter? The bully’s stepping back, especially at the phone?
8. Mark’s wife’s visit, wanting a divorce? His parents coming, his battered face and his refusal to come down, Eric making excuses, his mother’s phone call?
9. The new cellmate, Daniel, the visitors and his making his appeal, frustrated? Mark talking to him, advising him, the chaplain and her suggestion for restorative justice mediation, Eric presiding, the parents of the dead man, Daniel telling the story, lack of money, the victim and his attitudes, outside, boxing skills, Daniel’s motivation? The family not accepting his story? Returning to his cell?
10. The prisoner who couldn’t read, asking Mark to write on his card, Mark offering to teach him, the words on the card, love, the prisoner happy? His later support Mark, rescuing him after the bashing? And the Farewell, and the promise of writing?
11. The emotional impact of the episode of Marks father’s death, trying to make the phone call, being cut off? The irony of Daniel, bringing in the phone, Mark telling him to get rid of it, the fact that he didn’t and that was found in his computer? And Mark sharing the blame? Mark and the chaplain, her making the phone call, the news of his father’s death? The humanity, his being able to go to the funeral, his writing a text, getting ready, in the car, the discovery of the phone in the cell, his being prevented to go, the visualising of the funeral, his mother giving his speech? The sympathy of the chaplain, the going to the Chapel, the prayer together, Mark and his words about his father?
12. Keeping the flashbacks to the episode of Mark, drinking in the hotel, going to his car, the rain, driving, distracted, the cyclist and the crash? His going home, the meal, contact with the police, giving himself up, the court case, the victim’s wife and her vehement attack on him and punishment demands? His not denying any of this? Acceptance of his sentence?
13. The context for these flashbacks, the latter part of the film, audiences having seen Mark and his prison experience? The chaplain, the authorities, there inviting Mark to travel to speak to the prison-concern group, travelling, the speech, and seeing the victim’s wife leaving during the final applause?
14. His being set up, to make the drug contact, in the taxi, driving to the venue, getting back in the taxi, his speech to the audience that he wanted to live the good life, his return, telling the prisoner that he had not followed through, the playing pool, taking the balls, coming to Mark cell, the bashing?
15. Eric, his continuing to bring the drugs in, the visits to his son, protecting his son, his wife and the regrets? Erich arriving, the authorities having worked out the protection for his son, his being taken into custody?
16. Mark being freed, good behaviour, the farewell to the man learning to write, his going to see Daniel, Daniel still plagued by the images of the death?
17. Mark going out as dead as Eric goes to the court, his speech in the court, the judges sympathetic hearing, but having to serve a sentence?
18. A year later, on the pier, Mark, the wife of the victim coming, prepared to talk, his offering his letter that he wrote and she would not accept previously, her saying she could not forgive him even though she is new she must, that perhaps in time she would, and that you write her a letter?
19. The strong look at prison life yet Jimmy McGovern’s humane approach, and his filter of Catholic theology of sin, forgiveness and atonement?