In an attempt to erase memories of the doom, gloom and hysterical shrieking of the film that was ‘The Whale’ Heather and I went to see ‘Allelujah!’ - an Alan Bennett/Heidi Thomas offering set in an old hospital that was threatened with closure because it was no longer financially viable. Before we saw the film, which was a matinee, we had a spot o’ lunch at a local independent bistro-type place, which was very nice and I couldn’t think why, when I’ve lived here for almost 7 years, I haven’t visited before.
Now, the trailer for the film suggested it might be a comedy. However, it soon became clear that all the comedy moments had been strung together in order to make the trailer. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t a bad film at all. I enjoyed it. I’d give it 7/10. But I’ve enjoyed other films more, for example, ‘Mamma Mia 2’, ‘Sing’ and ‘Yesterday’. I’m not going to add it to my DVD collection of ‘films to do the ironing to’ or ‘films to watch when I’m feeling a bit grim’ but I’m glad I saw it because it made me even more determined to keep as big a gap between myself and anything hospital-related for as long as possible, and that when my time comes I hope there is a massive snowstorm and I can crawl out into the garden and drift off to Heaven under an avalanche.
It was certainly more thought-provoking than ‘The Whale’ and there was a twist to the plot which I spotted about halfway through, so wasn’t a massively surprising twist. What spoiled it for me was the last three minutes, which turned into a massive, soaked in sweat and spitefully angry diatribe about the state of the NHS and how marvellous and dedicated all the doctors and nurses are, despite being treated like sh*t. Ironic timing, really, given we are in the throes of NHS staff strikes and thousands of hospital appointments and operations are being cancelled or delayed leaving Joe and Josephine Public upset, worried and frustrated. When the original play was produced back in 2018, there may have been a valid point to Bennett’s message. But the ensuing pandemic was used to thrust home the message of how grateful we should all be to the NHS. All it did for me was highlight a) how expectations of vocational careers have changed over the years and not necessarily for the better and b) when a government decides to confine healthy people to their homes and shut down the country, there is bound to be a backlash so why is everyone surprised that people have become angrier and more militant? But that’s my personal opinion. Other opinions are available.
Andy took Nell to Trentham yesterday to meet up with some of his friends who were passing through on their way home from a holiday. I stayed home and wrote for three solid hours without interruption. It was delicious!! Here is Nell, perched on the wall around the fountain…
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