☰

ZingB

The Song of Lunch

"A Song of Lunch" boasts nuanced storytelling, doting camerawork and tremendous acting.

Eddie Izzard had it right in “Dress to Kill” regarding the difference between British and American movies. Britain is known for making smaller, subdued films, the kind you can’t really eat popcorn to. Masterpiece Contemporary’s “A Song of Lunch” is just that kind of project — nuanced storytelling, doting camerawork and tremendous acting. Popcorn certainly won’t do, but a nice glass of Chianti or Grappa would provide the perfect pairing.

Related Stories

The YouTube logo wrapped inbetween the Netflix logo VIP+

How YouTube and Netflix Copied Each Other’s Homework

Toxic Fandom

Toxic Fandom: How Hollywood Is Battling Fans Who Are ‘Just Out for Blood’ — From Social Media Boot Camps to Superfan Focus Groups

Adapted from Christopher Reid’s poem of lost love, longing and liquor, this unique project contains elements of “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” and “My Dinner With Andre.” Reid’s poem was supposedly inspired by the pub scene in James Joyce’s “Ulysses.” If Joyce captures slice-of-life Dublin, Reid captures slice-of-pizza Soho London with equal parts lachrymosity, cynicism and folly.

Popular on Variety

Under the Masterpiece Contemporary banner, this BBC production is part of a move to de-stodgify the stalwart series and explore new ideas in a timely way. While modern London is the setting, “A Song of Lunch” covers old themes of love and betrayal.

The action is mostly verbal, with a good deal of the story taking place in the “leafy literary” mind of Alan Rickman’s character, simply called “he.” A book copy editor who has arranged a lunch with an old flame (simply “she” played by Emma Thompson), he is apprehensive about the rendezvous at one of their old haunts. The restaurant has changed its look, the lovers are 15 years older, but the arguments, the old wounds and the familiarity is still very fresh.

“He” however, is stuck in his own mind, mingling memories, observations and longing. No movement, no action is too small to narrate, comment upon or examine. Wine is poured in a “splashy gabble,” and sharing appetizers or a touch of the hand takes on startling intimacy. The inner dialogue is entertainingly spot-on, both pompous and hilarious, with the colorful description of a pepper grinder and its application by the waitress one for the ages.

Director Niall MacCormick combines extreme close-ups, hazy memories and slow motion to give purpose to Rickman’s inner voice. His visual link to Rickman’s poetic play-by-play creates an in-depth portrait of small moments.

Thompson is the perfect antidote to “he’s” self-indulgent wistfulness and, despite less screen time, matches his level. Sharp, equally observant and intuitive, she accurately diagnoses her lunch partner as one who confuses poetry with therapy.

Rickman is at once funny, sad and insufferable, his thick voice and slow drawl a perfect match for such a complex monologue.

Jump to Comments

The Song of Lunch

Movie; PBS, Sun. Nov. 13, 9 p.m.

  • Production: Filmed in London by BBC/Masterpiece: Executive producers, Rebecca Eaton, Sarah Brown, Greg Wise; producer, Pier Wilkie; director, Niall MacCormick; writer, Christopher Reid;
  • Crew: camera, Jan Jonaeus; editor, Chris Barwell; production designer; Simon Beresford; casting, Julia Crampsie. Running time: 60 MIN.
  • Cast: He - Alan Rickman She - Emma Thompson Waiter - Andi Soric Waitress - Siubhan Harrison Massimo - Joseph Long

More from Variety

Most Popular

Must Read

Sign Up for Variety Newsletters

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Variety Confidential

A Variety and iHeartRadio Podcast

ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9nfXJ9jq2taKqVq7amw9Joq6GdXai8r7OMqJ1mpKWjsKl5kGpocHFka4J4fY4%3D

Martina Birk

Update: 2024-04-25

<< Tallulah Willis Calls Out Haters Who Called Her Ugly With Christmas B

Singers Unlimited Podcast >>