6 hours of gloriously filmed television is wrapped up this week as the first series of Rectify comes to an end. The series follows the six days after Daniel Holden (Aden Young) is released from death row, on a technicality, where he lived mostly in isolation for almost two decades after being convicted of raping and murdering his girlfriend. The season finale is the top of my highlights list this week.
6 hours of gloriously filmed television is wrapped up this week as the first series of Rectify comes to an end. The series follows the six days after Daniel Holden (Aden Young) is released from death row, on a technicality, where he lived mostly in isolation for almost two decades after being convicted of raping and murdering his girlfriend. The season finale is the top of my highlights list this week.
Directed and created by: Ray McKinnon
Starring: Aden Young, Abigail Spencer
Premiering: Wednesday 7th August, 8.30pm
Rectify is the first Sundance Channel produced television series, and along with its critical acclaim has caused quite a stir with its unique pacing and cinematic visual approach. Determined to avoid the murder/mystery television formula, Rectify uses an almost dreamlike sense of rhythm to tell a story which fluctuates between watching Daniel trying to comprehend the world he finds himself in and shocking short moments which drive the narrative forward.
The final episode is titled Jacob’s Ladder, and finally we see some acknowledgement of George’s suicide, Daniel’s connection with Tawney and the animosity the Southern town to Daniel’s release. Do we find out if Daniel is guilt or not? You’ll have to wait and see.
Directed by: Janet Fraser Crook
Starring: Jimmy Cliff, Paloma Faith and The Hives.
Premiering: Wednesday 7th August, 7.25pm
Premiering before Rectify on Wednesday night is Later…with Jools Holland, with Holland back for his 40th series. This week’s guests include legendary Jamaican musician Jimmy Cliff, Paloma Faith, Swedish rockers the Hives, American indie-pop duo Beach House and Nottingham-born singer-songwriter Jake Bugg.
For me there are two reasons why Later…with Jools Holland has been so successful. First, for as long as I can remember this show has always sounded fabulous. Speaking from experience, it’s very hard to make live music sound great on television and yet this show has made sure the music sounds and feels as good as possible on our televisions. Because of this, Holland has been able to get some of the world’s best and brightest stars to perform on his show. Which leads me to the second reason I think viewers love Holland; taste. The show features well-known artists, but thanks to its hosts discerning ear it also features emerging bands you should know and want to know. It’s the thought of discovering a new band or artists that keeps many others and me coming back year after year.
Directed by: Istvan Szabo
Starring: Helen Mirren and Martina Gedeck
Premiering: Saturday 10th August, 8.30pm
A somber and intense drama from Oscar winning filmmaker Istvan Szabo (Being Julia, Mephisto), The Door is set in 1960s Hungry and tells the story of the special relationship between two very different women, successful novelist Magda (Gedeck) and her brusque mannered maid Emerenc (Mirren). Emerenc’s traumatic past is slowly revealed in an emotionally powerful story, although the stoic, unsentimental tone makes it hard for the audience to truly connect to this emotion. Helen Mirren, however, is in fine form, as is The Lives of Others actress Martina Gedeck, who easily holds her own against the Dame.
Have a good week.