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The Good Book film poster
The Good Book film poster

The Good Book: Film & Review

Home Ā» Reviews Ā» The Good Book: Film & Review

Set in a Leeds of the near future, ā€œThe Good Bookā€™ directed by Brett Chapman with a script by James Phillips, tells the story of a community beset by fear and suspicion.

A young woman called Bear, having had visions that society needed to return to the time of King Arthur, has somehow risen to be Queen. Her supporters, a puritanical mob of book banners (or burners) are being opposed by a secretive group of rebels known as Galahads. Tensions are rising and check points seem to be on every street corner.

Along these mean streets walks Avalon (formerly known as Claire). She has a special friend from ā€˜abroadā€™, whose text icon appears to be the Irish tricolour (though we find out they have never met in person). Another of Avalonā€™s friends is set up in a social club brawl, arrested and dragged away (by soldiers dressed like Crusaders who have swords as well as guns).


Avalon receives instructions to save a book from Leeds library. Soon after, an apparent assassination attempt on the Queen threatens to trigger a civil war. With informers, for both sides, lurking everywhere, Avalon could use an ally. Step forward Geraint (formerly Matt). Geraint seems to like her and tells her he stands with neither side. Geraint wants to help Avalon. He swears he isnā€™t afraid, but can she trust him?

The settings are impressively filmed, making ā€œThe Good Bookā€ a treat for the eye. Sound is sometimes a problem, as dialogue wages its own battle with the background soundtrack (you may be grateful, as I was, for the subtitles). A cinema showing might suit it better.

Riana Duce is a winning heroine as Avalon: vulnerable yet incorruptible and brave. Angus Imrie maintains the ambiguity of Geraint to good effect – is he a wannabe hero who has fallen for Avalon, or something far less noble?

Leeds Peopleā€™s Theatre drums up willing extras from the community whose commitment adds force to the sense of a society on the brink.

Commendable.

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Watch The Good Book
Martin
Written by
Martin Thomasson

A winner (with Les Smith) of the Manchester Evening News award for Best New Play, Martin taught script-writing at the universities of Bolton and Salford, before becoming an adjudicator and mentor for the 24:7 theatre festival. Over the years, in addition to drama, Martin has seen more ballet and contemporary dance than is wise for a man with two left feet, and much more opera than any other holder of a Grade 3 certificate in singing.

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Martin Written by Martin Thomasson