jessieanchor

Portmanteau story regarding plight of a critically ill child, stricken with Leukaemia. She has but days to live, she needs a blood transfusion for 3 pints of blood, but needs this within days or she will die. The race is on to find suitable donors - complicated by her extremely rare blood group.

The caring doctor teams up with a wily Scotland Yard detective, and they meet various sections of society in the hunt for their men.

Notable for an appearance by former World Light-Heavyweight Boxing Champion - Freddie Mills.

A stock black and white "B-movie", with some interesting twists and turns before we reach the climax.

Casting Matthew MacFadyen in the lead role seems a gamble both by the film-makers and also for the actor. However, this drama (in my opinion), seems well-researched enough, for the reputations of both to remain intact.

Thought-provoking, sensitive and filmed from a shifting perspective, the drama deals with an incredibly delicate subject well. Upon watching it, it's possible you may find yourself questioning your own empathy to various characters.

I'm determined to stay the right side of "contains spoilers", so it ties my hands somewhat. But please, 'give this a go', it has been written well, and is incredibly well acted. Kudos to MacFadyen for taking on an astonishingly difficult part.

Pace, direction and length are spot-on. You cannot predict the ending, it is very much (too) new territory to even get near the inner-workings of the lead's mind. The children in the roles act well too, and having 2 girls around the ages suggested, I can vouch for the authenticity of their naiveté, speech, false confidence and over-estimation of being 'streetwise'. A little scary in parts, but overall, a very interesting look at an extremely controversial, even taboo subject, through (a lot of the time), the eyes of the person you would least want to.

Bravo to Channel 4 for having the balls to get this made and shown.