My Policeman- Movie Review
By Rebecca Baker
Streaming on Prime Video
The arrival of Patrick into Marion and Tom’s home triggers the exploration of seismic events from 40 years previously.
Director- Michael Grandage
Writers- Ron Nyswaner(screenplay by)Bethan Roberts(based upon the book by)
Starring- Harry Styles, Emma Corrin, and Gina McKee
| My Policeman – Official Trailer | Prime Video |
My Policeman is a story of three selfish characters whose worst instincts are fueled by the oppressive times they live in; a time when homosexuality was punishable by imprisonment. I’m not sure if one or the other of these three was intended to be a villain, but none are particularly sympathetic. Late in life, Marion does the heroic thing of bringing an invalid (Patrick) into the home she shares with Tom, the titular Policeman. Is this an act of kindness and sacrifice on Marion’s part? Is it really heroic? Or is she trying to punish Tom? Or Patick? Or herself, for that matter?
What once seemed a warm friendship turned sour when Marion realized—on her honeymoon—that Tom and Patrick were carrying on an affair. In keeping up appearances of propriety, Marion settled for an unfulfilling life (emotionally and sexually) rather than leave Tom. She did not let on that she knew of the love affair. Tom was physically drawn to Patrick, but also drawn to the façade of living a normal life. He went between his wife and his lover as his whims carried him. That is, until he went to Venice with Patrick and Marion could take no more. She reported Patrick for suspicion of his unacceptable lifestyle which led to his incarceration. The beatings he suffered at the hands of other prisoners may likely have led to the stroke that put him in Tom and Marion’s home.
While central to the storyline set in 1950’s England, Tom is mysteriously scarce in the 1990’s. When he is seen, he’s inexplicably hostile/angry towards Marion for caring for Patrick’s needs. After reflecting upon her life while also seeing into Tom and Patrick’s shared moment’s through Patrick’s diaries, Marion decides to leave them both. Unfortunately, she makes this decision about forty years too late.
