Weekly Film Guide: I Swear Leads Essential Viewing on Netflix and Beyond
This week's television schedule offers a compelling lineup of films, headlined by the brilliant and moving biopic I Swear, which explores Tourette syndrome with depth and sensitivity. Lost in the recent Baftas fallout, this award-winning film deserves attention for its powerful plea for tolerance and understanding.
I Swear: A Touching Biopic on Netflix
Kirk Jones's award-winning biopic of John Davidson, a man living with Tourette syndrome, stands out as a spirited and essential watch. Robert Aramayo delivers a wholehearted performance as Davidson, capturing a life oscillating between desperation and hope, tragedy and comedy. Scott Ellis Watson matches this intensity as the young John, who begins developing tics as a teenager and sees his life unravel. Maxine Peake and Peter Mullan add lustre as mentors who help him recognize his potential. This film is a moving and persuasive exploration of human resilience. Tuesday 10 March, Netflix.
Worldbreaker: A Post-Climate Thriller on Prime Video
In a future ravaged by climate breakdown, humanity faces Breakers—insectoid creatures emerging from beneath the Earth's surface, infecting or killing most of the population, with men particularly susceptible. Luke Evans and Billie Boullet star as a father and 15-year-old daughter hiding on an island while Milla Jovovich's character leads an all-female army. Director Brad Anderson maximizes a limited budget by focusing on the coming-of-age angle, with Evans's Welsh lilt lending a bardic quality to this survival story. Saturday 7 March, Prime Video.
Brief History of a Family: A Chinese Psychological Drama
Lin Jianjie's deliciously unsettling Chinese psychological drama, with hints of Parasite, follows a cuckoo in the nest of a middle-class family. Xilun Sun plays Yan Shuo, a reserved boy befriended by his sporty but less academically gifted classmate Tu Wei, portrayed by Muran Lin. Wei's parents, played by Keyu Guo and Feng Zu, see in Shuo the son they desired—attentive, cultured, and smart. However, his escalating presence raises questions: is it an escape from an abusive father or something more sinister? Saturday 7 March, 10.40pm, BBC Four.
The Manchurian Candidate: A Cold War Classic
John Frankenheimer's terrific thriller delves into cold war paranoia, with Frank Sinatra as commanding officer Marco, haunted by nightmares that hold the key to a pan-communist plot against America. The central mystery revolves around Laurence Harvey's decorated war hero Shaw and the reasons behind his brainwashing in 50s Korea. Angela Lansbury adds depth as Shaw's mother, intent on involving her son in his senator stepfather's rise to power in this sly oedipal tale. Sunday 8 March, 9pm, Sky Arts.
Zootropolis 2: Animated Adventure on Disney+
As the second-highest-grossing animated film of all time, Zootropolis 2 returns with police detective duo Judy Hopps, a rabbit voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin, and Nick Wilde, a red fox voiced by Jason Bateman. Their new case involves a snake, voiced by Ke Huy Quan, possibly connected to a smuggling operation in a city where snakes haven't been seen for years. This colourful comedy action adventure is sure to delight younger audiences. Wednesday 11 March, Disney+.
Materialists: A Love Triangle on Sky Cinema
Celine Song's follow-up to Past Lives features Dakota Johnson as high-end Manhattan matchmaker Lucy, caught between two men: her ex, broke actor/waiter John played by Chris Evans, and loaded financier Harry portrayed by Pedro Pascal. With quotable lines about dating and marriage, and photogenic stars, Lucy's dilemma is ripe for heated post-viewing debate. Friday 13 March, 8.35am and 8pm, Sky Cinema Premiere.
Girl: A Debut Feature on BBC Two
Adura Onashile's wonderfully assured debut feature, Girl, offers a sensitive portrait of immigrant life and the burdens of history. Déborah Lukumuena delivers an exceptional performance as Grace, a nightshift cleaner living in a Glasgow flat with her 11-year-old daughter Ama, played by Le'Shantey Bonsu. Past trauma makes Grace mistrustful and overprotective, but Ama's desire for new experiences leads to a friendship with cheeky neighbour Fiona, portrayed by Liana Turner. Friday 13 March, 11pm, BBC Two.
This week's film selections provide a diverse range of stories, from heartfelt biopics to thrilling adventures, ensuring there's something for every viewer to enjoy on television.
