My Policeman Parent Guide

When young police officer Tom Burgess (Harry Styles) responds to a routine traffic complaint he has no idea that the man who reported the accident is going to have a profound effect on his life. Patrick Hazlewood (David Dawson) is a museum curator, and he explodes into Tom’s life and that of his girlfriend, Marion Taylor (Emma Corrin) in a whirl of excitement. Soon Patrick is giving Tom and Marion guided tours of his museum, taking them to a recital, and exposing them to the opera. There’s just one catch: Patrick has more than a friendly interest in Tom and it seems that Tom might reciprocate those feelings.

Romantic triangles are a staple of the movies but this one manages to provide more tension than usual, primarily because in 1950s Britain, homosexual relationships are illegal and convictions result in prison sentences. Patrick has acknowledged his sexual orientation and lives accordingly, while doing his best to avoid the law. Tom, on the other hand, struggles as he tries to cope with his feelings for Patrick, obey the law he is sworn to uphold, and preserve his relationship with Marion. In no time frame would this complex emotional tangle be easy to sort out, but in the 1950s, it can only end in heartbreak.

In fact, the heartbreak is unending. The movie cuts between the 1950s and the 1990s when Marion (now played by Gina McKee) invites Patrick (Rupert Everett) into their home as he recovers from a stroke. As Tom (Linus Roache) steadily ignores him, Marion feeds, nurses, and talks to her old rival as he tries to speak. Patrick’s diaries are in a box of his personal effects, and they speak for him, giving a window into the past.

How you will feel about this film will depend significantly on your perspective on homosexuality; whether your opinions are traditional or contemporary. This is definitely a movie-with-a-message, a clear call for people to be allowed to have relationships with whomever they want. It certainly paints a devastating picture of the human and social toll of criminalizing homosexuality.

Also key to your reactions to this film will be your tolerance for negative content, of which there is plenty. There is a lot of sex in this film, some clothed, some shoulders-up, some with lots of back and side nudity (buttocks included). Although there are no scenes of genitals or breasts, the movie features extended sex scenes, gay and straight. It even includes sexual activity in public spaces: the parties remain clothed but it’s in very poor taste. There are also scenes of intoxication and some chilling moments of homophobic violence, all of which contribute to the movie’s well deserved Restricted rating.

I find My Policeman a difficult film to evaluate. The editing is poor, with cuts between the different time frames sometimes feeling forced or artistically self-conscious. All the cast, however, are highly persuasive and the characters’ emotions all feel real. The web of love, deceit, and betrayal that enmeshes the characters is spun with care and the pain that results is authentic. In fact, there is so much pain in this film that it’s difficult to forget – but also difficult to like.