A pleasing?

Glorious 39 (2009)

British writer/director Stephen Poliakoff brings this thriller to the screen staring Romola Garia and Bill Nighy. The adopted daughter of a member of parliament thinks there is a conspiracy to try and make peace with the Germans on the eve of World War 2.

This film is everything British cinema does well these days, a period piece about upper class characters with a good ensemble cast. Garia gives a really great performance as the scared lead character that no one believes and everyone is out to get. There is plenty of tension and the film is shot really well with some great locations on show.

My problems with this film come with the plot which is not as good as it could be in a couple of areas. I can get past some of the more far fetched elements in terms of being necessary to provide a good story but it is a shame that the film does not give a balanced look at appeasement. It would also have been better if the idea that the main character was mentally unstable was played up abit more to keep us guessing longer. The other part I am not sure was really necessary was the modern times sequences that book end the film, these did not really seem to add much.

4/5