Allelujah

2023

1h 39m

IMDb RATING

5.2/10

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5 Videos

11 Images

Drama

When news of the closure of a small hospital's geriatric ward begins to reach the community, the hospital invites a local news crew to document their planning of a concert in honor of the hospital's most celebrated nurse. But there might be something more threatening to the hospital itself, more deadly than the politicians ready to shut down the place at a moment's notice.

Directors

Richard Eyre

Writers

Heidi Thomas(screenplay by)

Alan Bennett(writer by)

Stars

Jennifer Saunders

Bally Gill

David Bradley

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Videos5

Photos11

Top cast

Sister Gilpin

Dr Valentine

Joe Colman

Colin Colman

Ambrose

Mary

Kieran

Nurse Pinkney

Mrs Earnshaw

Mother

Minister

Richard

Molly

Ruma

Mavis

Mr Salter

Mr Earnshaw

Pianist

Directors

Richard Eyre

Writers

Heidi Thomas(screenplay by)

Alan Bennett(writer by)

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Review

Featured review

7/10

When a small geriatric hospital in Northern England is threatened with closure, the staff and patients rally together to try and save it. There might be a glimmer of hope with this task as the government consultant tasked with the final evaluation - "Colin" (Russell Tovey) has his estranged father " Joe" (David Bradley) in that self same facility. The place is run under the benignly imperious hand of "Sister Gilpin" (Jennifer Saunders) with Bally Gill's "Dr. Valentine" tending to their clinical needs. As you'd expect with Alan Bennett, this comes at you from the left of the political spectrum, and highlights what he sees as the short-termism of fiscally based decision making. To that end, Sir Richard Eyre has assembled a strong cast of formidable character actors to portray the patients. Most notable amongst them, for me, was Julia McKenzie and Bradley is also on great form as the curmudgeonly old gent coming to terms with his predicament and his successful, gay, son. There is plenty of dry humour, observational sarcasm to the fore and Saunders and Gill have quite a nice chemistry between them as they both strive to care for their elderly charges. I can't say that I loved the ending. It is thought provoking, but somehow seemed just a little over-dramatic and unnecessary. That said, though, the ensemble cast reminded me very much "Quartet" (2012) with strong leading characters and familiar faces at every turn helping to highlight the serious (and lighter) issues of the ageing process for both the older folks and for those charged with keeping them well. Not sure it really needs a cinema to enjoy, but it's still well worth ninety minutes.

Geronimo196726 Mar, 2023