209.. The Uncertain Kingdom - Volume 1; movie review

THE UNCERTAIN KINGDOM
Cert 15
121 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong sex references, child sexual abuse, language, bloody images, nudity

There is no doubt in my mind that the heart of those behind The Uncertain Kingdom is in the right place.
They have given artists a platform to express themselves on the big issues faced in the UK - from climate change through immigration, disability, homelessness to sexuality and beyond.
Twenty directors were challenged with making a short film on the subject of their choice in order to create a portrait of the nation
Artists working across film, TV, theatre, animation, dance and radio present drama, documentary, dance and mockumentary through to animation.
It is a laudable endeavour, so I would like to praise director John Jencks and producers Isabel Freer and Georgia Goggin for the concept.
Unfortunately, there is a significant but because there is a big disparity in the quality of the short films.
Indeed, the lack of consistency meant that I elected not to watch the second volume of ten films.
The pick of the ones I saw was Ernie - based around a gay loner (Paul Kaye) who is a carer for a bullying, racist father (Steven Berkoff).
Its quality can't be a huge surprise - Kaye and Berkoff showed why they are actors of high reputation.
I should also give a mention to British People - centred on a Conservative Party candidate of Chinese descent (Jennifer Lim).
The others were either too offbeat for my liking or were worthy but without polish.

Reasons to watch: Some hard-hitting material
Reasons to avoid: Far too inconsistent

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 4.5/10

Did you know? On average, the cost of making a short movie is between £500 and £1,000 per minute of completed film. It takes about an hour to film one page of script (if it's at one location).

The final word. Producer John Jencks “Despite the seismic changes of the last few months each film feels as pressing and urgent as they ever did, many all the more so. The closure of cinemas means we will be releasing straight into people’s homes and we hope the films transport individuals and connect communities in ways that are novel and healing.” Screen Daily

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