Directed by Richard Eyre (The Children Act (2017); Notes on a Scandal (2006); Iris (2001)) and starring Jennifer Saunders (Death on the Nile (2022); French & Saunders (tv series, 1987-2017); Absolutely Fabulous (1992-2012)), Arian Nik (Artemis Fowl (2020); Dating Amber (2020); The Bay (tv series, 2021)), Russell Tovey (Grabbers (2012); The Good Liar (2019); Pride (2014)), Judi Dench (Skyfall (2012); The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011); Belfast (2021)), Derek Jacobi (Gladiator (2000); Gosford Park (2001); Murder on the Orient Express (2017); Last Tango in Halifax (tv series, 2012-2020)) and David Bradley (The World's End (2013); Hot Fuzz (2007); Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)).
Drama; 99 mins; 12+
Set in and around a geriatric ward in a small Yorkshire hospital which is threatened with closure - their precarious situation being thanks in part to the recommendations of management consultant Colin Colman (Russell Tovey), whose father Joe Colman (David Bradley) happens to be a patient there. It is managed by the matronly Sister Gilpin (Jennifer Saunders) and kind-hearted doctor Abdul Kashani (Arian Nik), but it is the patients whose storylines provide many of the sub-plots, including Mary Moss (Judi Dench) and Ambrose (Derek Jacobi), neither of whom seem to have any visitors.
For anyone expecting an uplifting light-hearted British drama about a choir, such as Military Wives (2019) or Fisherman's Friends (2019), Allelujah is not like them. At all. Instead, it is a sombre study of patients in a small hospital in an under-funded NHS whose ultimate bosses (who pull the money strings) are looking for ways to save money. At the end, a short monologue spoken directly into the camera actually gives the feeling that this is more of a docu-drama in many senses.
A (very) slow burn - not much happens in the first hour - one of the storylines features a local camera crew that comes to document the workings of the hospital, in the lead-up to Sister Gilpin receiving an award - at which the hospital choir (of patients) performs; however, the last third of the film kind-of makes up for it.
For some of the personalities, their characters are developed somewhat, although never very deep at all. But there are some fine acting, and the end is somewhat of a surprise, given what comes before.
As IMDB states, it is "paying tribute to the deep humanity of the medical staff battling with limited resources and ever-growing demand".
Currently screening in Luxembourg at Ciné Utopia.
