Talking Heads 2

Talking heads comprises a 30-40 minute monologue of a character, documenting experiences that they have had in the life. While the first season was interesting and at times moving, this second season takes us to an altogether deeper level.

This second season focuses on 6 more characters, explaining the experiences they have had, recent or distant. While all 6 monologues are exceptional, there were 2 particularly moving ones.

Waiting for the telegram has Thora Hird, a 90-something year old woman in a nursing home explaining her life. When she reminisces on her young man back in World War I, it becomes truly saddening.

Nights in the Gardens of Spain has Penelope Wilton explaining her relationship with the woman next door, who has killed her husband after suffering an abusive relationship for many years. Not wanting to give too much away, this story is gripping and moving, and very very sad.

If you are looking to have a meaningful and moving Sunday afternoon sometime, this second season of Talking Heads is recommended.

Alan Bennett has done it again, but furthering his views on human loneliness, despair and plain resignation (amongst others). Patricia Routledge's character is yet again proof that she is an excellent tragedienne. Eileen Atkins handles what is possibly the most uncannily ironic of all six pieces. Julie Walters ventures in deep, dark territory here, and what to say of Thora Hird's almost unbearably moving rendering here? No actor should be left out, really. This series of monologues makes you wonder if television isn't the clever box after all, rather than the idiot one. Bravo!

darker, and with fewer happy endings than the first series, "talking heads 2" is a real treat. alan bennett's ability to capture natural voices, phrases and opinions shines through, here. some characters are unsympathetic ("the hand of god"); some are very easy to emapthise with, despite the terrible things they do ("playing sandwiches"). the sharp performances from a superb group of actors, and very understated direction and lighting, make the series even more intense. "miss fozzard finds her feet" had me laughing aloud: patricia routledge's upright, proud narrator is quite content to blur the lines of morality by the end of her half hour. "waiting for the telegram" left me flabberghasted and sobbing, as dame thora hird's subtle, gentle performance revealed far more to the audience than the character could ever have realised. so carefully constructed as to be almost real, it's a triumph.

Ten years after the original six terrific monologues of "Talking Heads", Alan Bennett returned with another series of six monologues, as varied and interesting as the first.

The basic approach is the same. The pieces are about a half hour, the characters speak directly to the camera on sets that are theatrical rather than naturalistic. Once again there are 5 female and 1 male character in the group. And once again the acting is at a very high level, bringing these works to touching, funny, and occasionally very disturbing life. Bennett is a wonderful writer who manages to get all the details right, to find the poetry, comedy and tragedy in day to day life and in everyday people.

Not every piece is as strong as the best, but there's not one less than very good. And the best are amazing.

This time around, the monologues are performed by Patricia Routledge, Eileen Atkins, Julie Walters, Thora Hird, Penelope Wilton as the five women and David Haig as the lone male voice. The overall tone seems slightly darker in this set, often dealing with loss, and in one case a daringly sympathetic portrait of a pedophile (not that his actions are seen as less than monstrous, but Bennett still forces us to perceive the man as a human being trapped by forces beyond his control, rather than simply as a monster).

As with the first series this is an excellent and creative use of the intimacy of television, where lengthy close ups and simple visuals are more effective and less fatiguing than they can be in theatrical features.

My comment is restricted to the episode (one of six in the series) called "Waiting for the Telegram" with Thora Hird, as it is the only one I've seen. I had taped it and planned to watch it for ten minutes before going out. I couldn't turn it off, and by the end I was sobbing loudly enough to disturb the neighbours. After half an hour of listening to one actress speaking, I had new insight into WWI, the AIDS epidemic and its effect on young men today (paralleled tacitly, but unmistakeably, to the decimating effect of war on youth), and the effects of age, disability, and loneliness.

I have since bought and read the book of the series (worth it for the author's introduction alone), and was too disturbed to sleep afterwards, particularly by the episode with Julie Walters. I will be getting the complete series on video as soon as possible and recommending it to everyone in the entire world.

Watch this for profound insight into the human condition. Not easy, but worth it. Alan Bennett is a genius.