Movie Review - Help

Director: Marc Munden
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 98 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Jodie Comer, Stephen Graham
 
Description: Sarah (Jodie Comer) seems to have found her calling working in a Liverpool care home where she has a special talent for connecting with the residents. Then, in March 2020, the Coronavirus pandemic hits.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 45: A MOVIE WITH AN ACTOR YOU LOVE
 
Review: Sarah starts working at a Liverpool care home for residents with dementia. She forms a special bond with the relatively young Tony. Bu in March 2020 come the first reports of Covid. The film shows the initial ignorance, growing unrest and panic faced by the British healthcare system. Lack of funding and manpower make things considerably more difficult.

The film starts off fairly lighthearted and uplifting, but this builds up to a more harrowing tone as Covid starts to take its grip on the UK and the struggle faced by the care industry are played out.

As the virus spreads, residents start to feel ill and many of them die. The situation deteriorates and  resident’s names are stripped from the doors, their rooms sealed up, and staff are forced to isolate, quarantine and work double shifts. There is this one powerful 20+ minute one-shot scene, where we see Sarah on a 20 hour shift, all alone in the care home, struggling to look after Kenny, an older resident, as he suffers from Covid related symptoms and he struggles breathing. Sarah’s calm and collected demeanor slowly gives way to panic and anger as she realizes that she truly is on her own. With no help on the way. The whole film, but this scene especially, made a huge impact on me.

The third act of the film takes a slightly odd turn, but when you finally understand the reasoning behind it, it feels more logical. And it helps out the relationship between Sarah and Tony.

Jodie Comer shines as Sarah, what a wonderful, powerful performance. I felt all the feels because of her. And Stephen Graham, whom I’ve been a fan of for years, proofs why I am. He is such an underappreciated actor. And Comer and Graham are intensely compelling together and apart.

“Help” is one of those hidden gems, a film nobody knows about, let alone sees. I showcases a significantly underappreciated part of the healthcare system, which makes it an absolute must-watch.

Rating: 5/ 5