From the opening credits you know this is something different. Johnny Cash’s gravelly version of God’s Gonna Cut You Down sets the tone from the off for new major four-part drama Father and Son, co-produced by RTE and ITV. Written by the Emmy award winning Frank Deasy and directed by Brian Kirk, the drama features a celebrated international cast which includes Dougray Scott, Sophie Okonedo, Stephen Rea and Flora Montgomery, and focuses on the gun culture of inner-city life.
Set in Manchester and Dublin, Father and Son tells the story of Michael O’Connor (Dougray Scott), an ex- gangland criminal now living in Ireland, who returns to England when his estranged son is charged with murder.
Admittedly, when I was first given a copy of Father and Son for review, I was rather dubious. Despite the high calibre cast, it crossed my mind that this was just another mini-series designed to fill the meagre summertime schedule. However, it didn’t take long for any doubts to be quelled. The opening fifteen minutes of the first episode are as gripping as anything you’ll ever see in a television drama. In fact, at times it doesn’t feel like television at all, largely thanks to the editing and photography.
The pace loses some momentum in the second half, but nonetheless, the drama never loses its edge. Indeed, the slow burning nature serves the emerging complexities of the plot well. Deasy and Kirk never romanticise their subject matter, instead they provide a realistic and unforgiving insight into gun crime - its cause and its effect - while at the same time focusing on themes ranging from family to redemption; Michael must return to his past and face his demons in order to save his son, and himself. In this world justice lies in the barrel of a gun and criminals rule supreme.
The acting, for the most part, is solid throughout, in particular Dougray Scott and Sophie Okonedo. Scott adds conviction to his portrayal of a man torn between his past and present, while Okonedo lends a depth to her performance which the audience can easily relate to. Wumni Mosaku, in the role of Stacey, is also worth noting.
All in all, Father and Son succeeds as a high-end drama and is certainly not just schedule filler. Stylistically and thematically complex, the production delivers a powerful punch.
Father and Son begins tonight, Monday 29th June, on RTE One at 9:30pm.
Sounds good. I saw a link to it on the Rte player. Must it check it out.
And I also can believe it’s not butter!