‘My Policeman’: Harry Styles and David Dawson succumb to passion in lukewarm gay drama (on the cold side)

After passing through limited edition film festivals and commercial theaters (outside Spain), ‘My Policeman’ arrives on Prime Video, gay drama based on the novel of the same name by British author Bethan Roberts, directed by Michael Grandage (“The Book Publisher”). The film is supported by the production of Greg Berlanti, a key figure in the recent rise of LGBTQ + representation in film and television, with his Arrowverse series or the pioneering gay teen story “With love, Simon”.

‘My Policeman’, however, departs from the lightness of the titles cited to adopt a completely serious and dramatic point of view, in which it is a story about forbidden love, the passage of time and missed opportunities. A three story love and discovery story set in Brighton in the 1950s, which revolves around social pressure, the danger of not being able to be yourself in a world that haunts homosexuality and the consequences this can have on the lives of three people united by a common bond.

The story follows Tom, played by well-known singer Harry Styles, an attractive young gay cop who must hide his identity in a society that still considers homosexuality a crime (it was not partially decriminalized until 1967 in the UK). ). ), living a double existence amplified by the conflict posed by his profession. When an elementary school teacher named Marion (Emma Corrin, “The Crown”) notices him, Tom finds the perfect opportunity to maintain her facade while also meeting the charismatic and refined Patrick (David Dawson), an art curator who becomes a close friend of the couple and whom Tom falls madly in love with, starting a devious love story with him behind Marion’s back.

“My Cop” takes place between two times. In the past we have witnessed the blossoming of love and passion between Tom and Patrick, with Marion falling more and more in love with her first, unaware that he does not see (or desire) her in the same way as her new charming friend. . At the same time, we see the protagonists in the 1990s. After what they experienced in their youth, Marion and Tom (played in their mature versions by Gina McKee and Linus Roache) continued their marriage to conform to social conventions, which created resentment. between the two which escalates when Patrick (Rupert Everett) reappears in their lives, after Marion decides to take him in to take care of him during the final stages of his bedridden illness, barely able to communicate. So, Marion and Tom are forced to relive and re-evaluate what happened 40 years ago, revealing the secret that destroyed them, to try to find a second chance to mend the pain of the past..

Grandage, based on a screenplay by Ron Nyswaner (Oscar nominee for “Philadelphia”), approaches the story of Tom, Marion and Patrick with the same evocative delicacy and tense serenity as Roberts in his novel. The adaptation remains respectful in its transfer to the screen, opting for a casual approach and an elegant but discreet staging, which envelops the characters in the nostalgic veil of an idealized time, in which a repressed pain pulsates under its facade, looking for an outlet. The film sends a very valuable and timely awareness message about how, until recently, the LGBTQ + community had to remain in the shadows, hiding their true nature for fear of reprisals (beatings, arrests, convictions, social ostracism). A context that, unfortunately, is still in place in a modern society where homosexuality is still criminalized (in some cases with death) in many countries and the queer community is exposed to discrimination and violence on a daily basis, even in countries where it should be accepted.

In this socio-cultural framework, a love story is born between two men destined to fail because of that same context. “My Policeman” can be framed in the sub-genre of forbidden homosexual love affairs to which “Call Me By Your Name”, “Carol” or “Brokeback Mountain” belong, although the one they have most in common with is an unknown (and beautiful) miniseries. of the BBC entitled ‘Man in an Orange Shirt’ – and released on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality in England and Wales -, which raised exactly the same conflict, with a very similar triangle and also narrated twice. Y although “My Cop” is a correct proposition in that tradition, it loses respect to all the titles mentioned.

The main obstacle of the film is that the alleged passion that characterizes (or should characterize) the story is not felt as such. The emotional impetus is lacking both in the development of events and in the dialogues and characterizations, which remain rather on the surface. Throughout the footage, there are many moments that touch the surface of emotion, but there is something holding them back. And yes, it could be interpreted as a reflection of the times and of the very nature of history, in which discretion and prudence play an essential role, but it is not (only) this. It is a failed treatment, which allows the cold to permeate at all times and it is difficult to get under the skin of its characters.

Styles, better than “Don’t worry, dear”

Interpretations are not the problem. The leading trio do an amazing job, bearing in mind that the script they run doesn’t give them the opportunity to show off excessively. Of the three, Corrin stands out the most, with a performance of intense restraint and greater psychological complexity than his male counterparts. Even if it does not fully develop. Dawson embodies Patrick’s enigmatic and sophisticated personality while perfectly conveying the tragic pain of his conflict by daring to live his sexuality more openly than Tom. And the third in contention, Styles, comes out much better than the recent “Don’t worry, dear”.

It is true that in the more intense scenes Styles shows that he is not yet up to the dramatic challenge, but in the most intimate facet of the character, his process of self-discovery, which involves the fear of belonging to the same body that would condemn him if he knew. who he really is and the excitement of his relationship with Patrick, the still new actor comes to terms with the character’s inner conflict and suggests the good actor he could become. Also, far from being fearful, Styles also engages in passion with Dawson in exquisitely performed and acted sex scenes.. While they remain relatively modest, at least Grandage doesn’t turn the camera at key moments, and Styles and Dawson show a lot of chemistry, making the attraction and desire between their characters believable.

However, those moments of sensuality where the film seems to loosen up are not the whole. “My cop” is nice, but most of the time he doesn’t measure up to something really important. A problem that arises from the novel, which also lacks introspective capacity and a certain authenticity. Bethan Roberts seems to have only a rough idea of ​​what it really means to be a gay man (bordering on romantic fetishization) and this leads to the characters being half cooked, which makes it difficult to empathize with them at times, causing indifference. where he should move us. In its final stretch, the film almost manages to conquer that emotion that has resisted it up to that moment, but it arrives late and is diluted in what could have been. Like the story of Tom and Patrick.

‘My Policeman’ will not go down in history for its contribution to cinema, but for the good work of its actors (young and old) and its universal message on the passing of time intelligently applied to the history of the LGBTQ + community, the turning point in a welcome addition, although other similar stories have managed to better capture the sentiment that eludes her.

Note: 6

The best: The cast, especially Corrin, and Styles and Dawson’s chemistry in intimate scenes played tactfully.

Worse: Remains on the surface and struggles to move. Sometimes it is difficult to empathize with the characters.