dermotrathbone

Using archive material from the Thatcher years, Adam Curtis demonstrates a myth that many on the Left will be uncomfortable with; far from being an underhand experiment, Mrs. Thatcher made it clear from the start what her project was all about. The destruction of the Welfare State. The destruction of solidarity. The decimation of the right of the people to be protected from capitalism. But the Left were more interested in making speeches to each other and ideological purity. The media colluded with the Tories, and the hard earned gains of the working class were lost.

Brilliant and unsettling work from a dwindling pool of sharp and empathetic film maker.

The opening scenes are worth the license fee on their own.

Blitz was filmed in Hull. Our City has recently become the place where film makers come. Hence the sobriquet Hullywood. Blitz follows productions such as Enola Holmes and Victoria which use Hull's Museum Quarter to double up for Victorian London.

McQueen deservedly garnered a stellar reputation for critically acclaimed movies such as "Hunger" (2008) which revolved around the confrontation between Republican prisoners in N. Ireland and the British Government, and "12 Years a Slave" (2013). The latter saw McQueen win an Academy Award for Best Director.

Sadly Blitz will not be remembered as one of McQueen's better efforts. The plot is thin and stretches credibility, failing to engage this viewer other than to pin point locations in our great, and much under rated City. A top drawer cast were not deployed to their full potential. But the unexpected appearance of Mod Father Paul Weller was a rare treat.

The English Disease of over playing our role in the war, and indulging in unwarranted nostalgia is at play in Blitz.

Whilst the deaths of 40,000 civilians at the hands of Nazi bombs is tragic, we would do well to remember that the RAF.killed as many people in one week. The Dresden air raids of April 1945 are considered to be at minimum, heavy handed and by some as a crime against humanity given that the War only had days to run.

Sepia and cricked necked nostalgic films, including this one perpetuate English Exceptionalism. The Soviet Union and the USA won the war. We would do well to remember that.

My old man, despite being evacuated and later living through the terror of German missile attacks always reminded me of this.

Once again David Attenborough has come up with a novel and innovative way to show just how diverse and interesting our planet is. Every episode or series he does piques my curiosity. But the sad truth is that the advent of humanity presents an existential threat to every single aspect of life, including our own. Unless we change the Anthropocene will destroy us and much of our contemporaries, most whom have been here since life began some 2 billion years ago. David shows us what beauty and dignity there is on Earth. He resists the urge to scold. He holds up a mirror to ourselves. Enjoy and take the challenge to advocate for the wonder that David, at 97 still shows us.