Christopher & His Kind

This BBC film is based on the novel by Christopher Isherwood of the same name. It follows the journey of Isherwood (Matt Smith) to Berlin in the 1930s for the 'boys', having had it recommended to him by his friend and occasional lover W.H Auden (Pip Carter). He ends up living in a guest house run by Fraulein Thurau (Issy van Randwyck), where he lives alongside Gerald Hamilton (Toby Jones), Fraulein Mayer (Maggie Hayes) and the wannabe actress nightclub singer Jean Ross (Imogen Poots). Isherwood also takes time to sample the local nightlife, beginning a love affair with Caspar (Alexander Doetsch) which ends when he disppaears suddenly. He finds solace in his friendship with Jean, and another relationship with young Heinz (Douglas Booth).

Isherwood seems to be having something of a revival at the minute, his semi-autobiographical novel A Single Man inspired the wonderful film of the same name. This drama is wonderfully bought about; with the changing political situation in Germany very tastefully done. The conversations about how 'we can get used to everything', the way in which Hitler managed to make the poor believe in him and the depictions of Kristallnacht and the burning of books are very tastefully done. Isherwood's lack of ability to really properly join a cause, until he finds that Heinz may be at risk due to the Nazi's dislike of homosexuality is also very well done.

For someone who is interested in musical theatre, the nods to Cabaret, which was based on Isherwood's I Am A Camera were rather exciting. Thurau seems to have inspired Fraulein Schmidt, Fraulein Mayer inspired Fraulein Kost and, most obviously, Jean Ross inspired the wonderful character Sally Bowles; even down to lines 'perfectly marvellous' being one of them.

The performances from the cast were all very solid. Matt Smith proves that he's far more than just the Eleventh Doctor in Doctor Who, and I'm looking forward to seeing him do more work outside of that show (not that he's bad in that). He even brings a really interesting accent to Isherwood. Imogen Poots is wonderful as Jean Ross; I'd love to see her actually play Sally Bowles in Cabaret, she's not a strong singer, but that's kind of the point in that musical. She's wonderful optimistic, but also very smart and aware of the political systems at work. Douglas Booth, an English actor, does a brilliant non-comedy German accent and is rather easy on the eye as well. Other able support comes from Toby Jones whose character attempts to capatilise on the unsure political system and from Lindsay Duncan as Isherwood's mother.

This is being released on DVD tomorrow (the 21st) and is definetly worth buying, I really enjoyed this at times funny and very moving programme.