Gideons Daughter

Star Review

Following on from Friends and Crocodiles, Gideon's Daughter is the second of Poliakoff's pairing of films on the changes in society around the rise of Thatcher and the segue into New Labour. This is much the stronger of the two. Magnificent performances from Bill Nighy and Miranda Richardson capture two people dealing with changes in 1990s society from either side of the chasm. Nighy plays a man who has profited hugely from the hegemony of spin but we catch him as his doubts grow and his sense of personal worth diminishes to nothing. As for Richardson's Stella, her child has been run down and killed, and she now gets by with menial work on the edges, and has no meaningful connection to society at all. Gradually the two find ways to support each other. Spin may well work, but real relationships with real people are what we are here for, and Poliakoff shows once again the strength with which he presents the genuine interest, understanding and compassion of his characters. The remainder of the cast are equally impressive but Nighy and Richardson are luminous.

Anon on 26th January 2006

View all 98 of Anon’s reviews

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Film Description

Bill Nighy plays a hugely successful PR man struggling to maintain a relationship with his daughter against the backdrop of Labour's election victory and the death of Princess Diana in the summer of 1997. Miranda Richardson plays a mother trying to bury her grief in an unconventional way after the loss of her young son. Superb acting and direction all round.

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And the verdict is.....yet another epic thoroughbred from the Poliakoff stable! The reviews have been typically mixed, split between loving it or hating it (as was "Fr... more >

And the verdict is.....yet another epic thoroughbred from the Poliakoff stable! The reviews have been typically mixed, split between loving it or hating it (as was "Friends and Crocodiles"), the sister film.

I am frequently astonished and yet amused by the criticism generated by such masterpieces! For every criticism I can answer in my mind what I envisage the writer and director can see quite clearly.

For example, the Damien Lewis and Bill Nighy characters have been equally berated as leaving viewers feeling like they just don't care enough about them as people. But is that not a hugely perceptive masterstoke ftom the writer. To focus on two people elevated in business stature, gaining plaudits for their economic success but lacking in emotional depth and substance. Such critics should consider that the intention has maybe been fulfilled rather than passed by!

Gideon's Daughter is another beautifully thought out drama. The recent past is never an easy canvas on which to paint, but the writer has superseded himself with these last two epics. < less

What a conundrum this piece of film is! It has the most basic and intriguing of story lines, i.e. "What comes next?" Trouble is that nothing comes next, apart from a ... more >

What a conundrum this piece of film is! It has the most basic and intriguing of story lines, i.e. "What comes next?" Trouble is that nothing comes next, apart from a disjointed set of characters with Bill Nighy leading them as if he is imbibing a never-ending spliff!

A complete waste of viewers' time, only compensated for by Bill Nighy's usual standard of acting. < less

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DVD Extras

• Cast interviews
• Photo gallery
• Stephen Poliakoff interview.

Film Details

Cast

Robert Lindsay, Miranda Richardson, Bill Nighy

Technical Details