Ridley Road

Having been brought up about 500 yds from Ridley Rd, I looked forward to seeing this. Having seen the first episode, I am reminded of the wise words of Mark Twain, "The difference between truth and fiction, is that fiction has to be believable. This was not.

I am old enough to remember both Colin Jordan and Oswald Mosley, and in particular, the 1962 "visit" by the latter to Ridley Rd in 1962. This ended within minutes with Mosley receiving a police escort to get him out of the area. I'm not certain, but If that was not his last public appearance, it must have been close to it.

What I don't recall from that period, was that there was a Dalston office of Mossad operating in the area. I know that may seem harsh, but the problem I have with it, is that even as "Faction", it doesn't work for me. When it's gets as specific as naming a real place and a real date, you'd expect to see bits that you can recognise as being "based on a true story". But so far, I've seen nothing of the sort. This bears no resemblance to my recollections of Ridley Road and events in 1962.

My Review - Ridley Road. A new BBC Thriller

My Rating. 6.5 /10

It's a coincidence that the 2 series I'm reviewing today concern stories of anti Jewish Groups and anti Semitic violence . One is set in a fictional America "The Plot Against America." the other based on fact is "Ridley Road ." Set in 1962 Ridley Road is a new BBC four-part drama that covers a little known part of British History ( I certainly wasn't aware of it ) Its both a Political Thriller and a fated love story that takes place in London's East End when far right fascism was on a violent rise .

Based on a novel by Jo Bloom it's the story of the Jewish men and women who fought against the fascists led by Colin Jordan played by Rory Kinnear.

The British National party that would become The National Front were supplemented by the National Socialist Movement led by Colin Jordan.

I read that the series gets its title from the road that housed the headquarters of the coalition of Jewish men known as the 62 Group who took on the National Socialist Movement in retaliation to the groups anti Semitic violence and persecution.

I found the Screenplay by Sarah Solemani at times a trifle improbable and melodramatic especially concerning the romance between Viviene Epstein ( Agnes O'Casey) who follows her boyfriend Jack Morris (Tom Varey) an undercover informer for the 62 Group to London where she also is recruited to join her boyfriend as a spy and convince The National Socialist Group that she will be a valuable and loyal member .

Agnes O'Casey in her first television role is very impressive in this demanding role as she transforms from a shy young mousy Jewish teenager who after a Carnaby Street makeover and intensive undercover spy training eventually talks her way into Colin Jordan's country home headquarters that house the members of his fascist organisation .

There's some thrilling and suspenseful moments in Ridley Road but I got a little bored with the love story it just seemed a little improbable to me that this young girl could achieve what she does seemingly to just impress her boyfriend . The melodrama reaches a climax towards the conclusion of the series . Some of the scenes between Colin Jordan Vivian and his first wife who was Francoise Dior ,the niece of Christian Dior seemed too hysterical .

Then I changed my mind when I read that in fact Francoise also was a Nazi and helped fund various right-wing causes after the war. Their wedding ceremony reportedly involved them both nicking a finger, pressing them together and allowing the drops of blood to fall onto a copy of Mein Kampf.

I enjoyed this series with reservations keep an eye out for it on the ABC I View starting Saturday the 13th of November.

Ridley Road is inspired by a real life clash between UK fascists and Jewish Resisters in London's East End in the early 60's. The contemporary parallels are unmissable with antisemitism and racist hate crimes at record levels.

So I was expecting something a lot more dynamic and engaging than the first episode which took forever to get going and kept going off on romantic tangents.

Direction and script were most at fault, lots of really tight frame cropping for some reason and the script was heavy with platitudes and clunky exposition and short on action. The score was odd, lots of curious mood music that didn't reflect the period or add much.

Cast were uneven but generally good, the lead character was too passive, it didn't seem to be her story. All in all a bit disappointing.

It's like everything 60s is shoveled into this before it happened, the dressers got carried away again?. Eddie Marsan stands out, as ever, with a great performance, the others, mostly...mabye, they were just killing time till the pub opened? It's all a bit BBC with compromise writ large, which sadly, makes the story and characters suffer at the end of the day. I'd advise getting better writers and a motivated cast. The BBC used to do this stuff so well.

A young Jewish girl leaves her family home for love in London, when shs gets there however her life takes a very different course.

I thought this was a terrific four part series from The BBC, a fascinating, harrowing and incredible story from Britain's history. Not a story many seem to remember.

It is beautifully made, it looks big budget, with a big cast, great sets, and some terrific fashions. I love how they mix in original footage with the new shots, it looks so good.

Pacing is one of the main strengths, it will keep you gripped, and have you on tenterhooks in equal measure.

The acting is terrific all round, Agnes O'Casey, Sam Spiro, Eddie Marsan, and of course Rory Kinnear, who shows his chilling side, don't think I've seen him play a part such as this.

I loved it, served as a warning from history, 9/10.