SYNOPSICS
Beyond the Pale (2014) is a English movie. David Blair has directed this movie. John Heffernan, Adrian Quinton, Laura Morgan, Raphael Brandman are the starring of this movie. It was released in 2014. Beyond the Pale (2014) is considered one of the best Crime,Drama,Mystery,Tv movie movie in India and around the world.
Former Home Secretary Edward Shore tells Whicher that his son Charles, recently arrived from India with his family, is being threatened by an Indian called Asim. Whicher learns that Asim was travelling with his younger brother Roshan and was also seen in conversation with a governess, Miss Khan, who tells Whicher that she is concerned for the safety of Roshan. Asim's body is found in the docks and, though relieved, Charles denies any part in the murder. Roshan however visits the Shores and accuses Charles. He is injured in the resultant altercation with Whicher placing him in the care of his landlady Mrs Piper, a trained nurse. Soon afterwards Charles Shore's children are abducted. Haunted by the loss of his own son some years earlier Whicher sets out to find them though he is aware that Charles is holding back information which he must have in order to retrieve the children and solve the case.
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Beyond the Pale (2014) Reviews
Authentic and Gripping
A much better than usual story with good acting from the primary actors. Although two movies of this series proceed this one, this is the first of the series we've watched. There is a reasonable consideration that is why there are some holes but they are minor. Whicher's character is already well developed as are some of the relationships he has with other primary characters. Much of the film happens at night. The complaints about the low key lighting are without merit. 100 years or more ago our world after sun set was very dark compared to the over abundance of light we have now. The film accurately represents this. It augments and adds authenticity to the feel and mood of this film. Electric lighting did not exist nor did flashlights or other battery powered torches. I love the look of this film. It makes me feel as if I am there.
Wish fulfillment for libs who like costume drama
Because the first Whicher film was based on a true story, it was limited by the facts, and wound up anticlimactic. The filmmakers then made three fictional movies for Whicher, but this didn't really solve matters. They were a mix of melodrama, average content, and sensationalism trying to appeal to modern viewers (e.g. plots about incest or illegitimacy, and of course the burdened or "tragic" hero). That brings us to the third of these, "Beyond the Pale." At least one critic complained that its lighting was too dark. The previous movies certainly had that problem--with investigation scenes, for instance, straining our eyes by being shot in dingy, dark rooms. But "Beyond the Pale" was the first that actually used dark lighting in a good way, creating some moody, well-crafted sequences. I'm afraid that's all I can say in favor of this movie. Supposedly a detective story, its purpose is actually to pander to modern viewers' politics. It does this by taking the social justice wars of today and staging them in the distant past so we can watch righteous Victorians fight for 21st century liberal values in the Victorian Age. Unlikely to say the least, and eye-rolling TV, but it's a common mistake these days. As the pun in the title indicates, darkness and lightness prove central to "Beyond the Pale" in another way, as the plot examines issues of racism. The conflict comes down to a custody battle between a white man living in England, and the Indian woman who wants to bring the kids back to her home country. He's a politician from a rich, powerful upper class family, but he has wronged her in various ways. The film starts to portray him as a complex character, but soon throws this away by turning him into a criminal weirdo. I checked the Spoilers box as a formality, but you'd call the ending anyway. (What, you didn't really think the kids were going to stay with their English dad, did you?) Sure, the mom is powerless and has no legal rights, being a non-citizen. The Brits hold all the cards, and the dad is an upper class white male politician powerful enough to treat the Indian woman callously and get away with it. But for these same reasons, a 21st century TV thriller is guaranteed to make him lose. The Indian wins over him and her in-laws by giving a liberal righteous speech, in which the filmmakers all but paint a halo over her head. What a fantasy! The cold truth is that in real life, all the English characters--Whicher included--would do everything they could to keep the kids in England, no exception. Why wouldn't they? They have the power. And with or without racism, they'd be nationalist enough to choose England. From their POV, there's no reason to throw away the privileges of raising the kids in England with their rich, powerful white upper class family, with an English education and a promising future in the English elite. These Whicher movies are mediocre, a waste of Paddy Considine, an excellent actor with great presence.
Where was the lighting ?
I think this would have had the potential to be a great series but I couldn't see it. After about 40 minutes I gave up as I was straining so hard to try and make out the characters and surroundings of scenes shot inside I started to get a headache. I just adore the Murdoch Mysteries and thought this might be along the same line, so was really looking forward to watching it. I think the director was trying to keep it authentic but I think they took it to the point of being ridiculous. What a waste of their time and money with props etc for the inside scenes as I couldn't see a thing. Did the producers actually sit down and look at this before they put their go ahead gold stamp on it? I don't think so! They need to have a look at the Murdoch Mysteries, it is perfect!!
It could have been a radio play
The actual story and acting throughout this film were very good but what was definitely not was the lighting. Producers seem to believe that 100+ years ago the world was almost black and white and the sun was much dimmer. The night scenes (the majority of the film) were so dark that you could really only see shadows at time and even the daytime scenes were poorly lit. Pre-1950 was not a sepia tinted world so, come on, directors, switch on a few more bulbs or, in this case, light a few more candles. If number 2 of this series is just as bad I, for one, will not be watching.
How Did I Know Exactly What Was Going To Be The Ending?
Extremely predictable. Watch any other TV movie and it ends up the same.