‘Policeman’ offers arresting take on LGBTQ+ challenges in 1990s Europe

Bringing literature to the big-screen, Prime Video explored Brighton, England, through the eyes of Bethan Roberts’ 2012 novel, My Policeman. 

The movie, starring singer-songwriter Harry Styles, focuses on the forbidden romance between characters Tom Burgess and Patrick Hazlewood (David Dawson, The Last Kingdom). Styles plays the role of a Brighton policeman in the 1950s who’s struggling to figure out and accept his identity. When Burgess meets Hazlewood, it forever alters his fate. The movie starts off in the 1990s  and continuously flashes back and forth from the 50s to the 90s, showing viewers how the characters evolved over time. 

The movie portrays human navigation through complicated relationships as Burgess is seemingly in love with Marion Taylor (Emma Corrin, The Crown), but unbeknownst to her, he’s taken with Hazlewood, a museum curator. This doomed love triangle stunned the public when the book was originally published, as it challenges the narrative that homosexual characters are always the ones yearning for love; because in My Policeman, it’s Taylor, the heterosexual woman, who is yearning for the love of her husband. 

Even with this groundbreaking spin to traditional narrative, viewers still question whether Styles was a good casting choice or not. Parts of the movie feel as though he's simply restating the script, not embodying it as one should, and the monotony of his delivery takes away from the possible depth the movie could have had. As of late, Styles has been making his way into the acting industry (starting with Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk in 2017), sparking controversy. It was announced in the post-credit scene of Eternals that Styles had been casted as Eros, brother of Thanos, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Even more recently the movie Don’t Worry Darling was released, in which Styles played a supporting role, accompanied by lead actress Florence Pugh.

However, what lacks in his acting is made up for through the beautiful cinematography of the movie, which truly transports viewers into Brighton of the 50s. From the intricate museum art to the bright red telephone booths, the set and camera work of My Policeman is almost more intriguing than the movie itself. Cinematographer Ben Davis is the genius behind this breathtaking eye candy. Some of the more popular movies he’s worked on in the past include Kick-Ass, the Guardians of the Galaxy entries, and Hannibal Rising.

Cinematography and questionable acting aside, the movie brings the reality of what it was like to be a homosexual in the 50s to life. This is seen through the cruelty that Hazlewood receives from the police. Right before having sex, the two are seen by multiple policemen who beat the man unjustly as Hazlewood runs off, escaping the scene. The policemen shout slurs at the man as they force him to the ground and harm him for no good reason other than hatred. Although today the United Kingdom is far more accepting of the LGBTQ+ community, this sort of prejudice and violence has been woven into the fabric of societies around the globe.

A lot of this can be attributed to societal standards. As seen within the film, people have founded their beliefs and self-esteem on such beliefs for a long time. For some though, trying to break down these societal standards carries too much of a risk, like Burgess in the movie. If his colleagues found out he was attracted to men, he could have been unjustly fired or treated inhumanely as so many of them treated Hazlewood because of his sexuality. 

This novel and film not only talks about the unjust treatment of members of the LGBTQ+ community but also how hard it can be to tell someone the truth when one feels trapped as Burgess did. Although to viewers it may not seem very difficult for him to at least tell Taylor the truth about his feelings for Hazlewood, coming out is hard enough on its own, let alone with the added pressures he had.

Although the movie drones on in parts, the ending may make the movie worth it as everything comes full circle. This love story doesn’t have a fairytale ending or wedding bells ringing, just two men and the seaside together at last, which is perhaps the best possible ending the story could hope for.

There is a lot to be learned from My Policeman, and it’s admirable how real it is. Scenes aren’t sugar-coated and viewers are given a new, non-traditional perspective that production companies often avoid. Overall, the movie was beautifully brought to life, but there were missed opportunities that could have made all the difference. In this case, the book really is better than the film.

Grade: B

Blurb: Despite My Policeman’s suffering with subpar acting from Harry Styles, the cinematography and accuracy of the time period’s view on LGBTQ+ culture allow the film to give a new perspective on its subject matter.

By Emma Toney

Oshkosh West Index Volume 119 Issue III

November 28 2022