peterjluff

Rarely has such a good cast and a strong story been told so badly. The script is predictable and the science doesn't even make it to the back seat of the film. The script is mannered and riddled with cliche in this over-dramatised and un-engaging film. It is smugly self-satisfied and just doesn't do justice to the historic significance of the events it seeks to describe. Just one example - the church that is shown to have treated one of the three protagonists so badly first appears with an adult congregation singing "All things bright and beautiful", a hymn rarely sung other than for children's services. The choice of this hymn was clearly intended to signal the trivial nature off the church's objections to IVF and encourage us to sneer rather than help us to understand. What a waste of talent.

OK, it's not great cinema and it has a deeply predictable (a sometimes rather awkward) plot, but it is unpretentious, charming, optimistic and uplifting. Sink into its warm embrace and enjoy it for what it is - a small but well-crafted film that will bring a smile to all but the most cynical of viewers. Imelda Staunton shows once again what a fine all-round performer she is, but it goes to Ian lavender, in a lovely cameo, to provide the one surprising moment of real emotional impact. The idea that love will find a way is a well-worn theme which is reworked here to really pleasing effect. Yes there are cliches of both writing and direction, but they are cliches because film makers have found they work. A hugely enjoyable 85 minutes.

This is a film that blends history and myth - the whole premise of a cursed diamond is, of course, incredible - so it is only reasonable for the characters to be sharply drawn in the manner of a fairy story or morality play. It is a novel take on the personal catastrophes that come with war and if it is a bit stilted and the acting a bit mannered, if the coincidences that drive the story are a little too contrived, then that all sits very comfortably with what I felt was the spirit of the story telling. Taken together with the high production values, this was four hours of gripping drama, perhaps melodrama, that I enjoyed hugely.