Poppy Shakespeare

Dir: Benjamin Ross

2008

*****

Based on the novel by Clare Allan and adapted for the screen by Sarah Williams, 2008's Poppy Shakespeare premiered on television but easily warranted a cinema release, it is an absolute gem and one of the 00's biggest 'under the radar' masterpieces. Benjamin Ross, who directed 1995's cult hit The Young Poisoner's Handbook, was the perfect choice for the somewhat unreal and theatrical story about a group of day patients at a mental health hospital. While elements of the story and some of the characters are amusing, this is a serious and authentic tale as Clare Allan spent ten years in a mental health institution and much of what happens is based on real events and real people. The book was praised by critics and was nominated for the Guardian, Orange, Orange Broadband and BT book of the year covering several categories and the film is faithful to the novel (and deserved just as much attention). The story centers on two main characters, N (played by the brilliant Anna Maxwell Martin) and Poppy Shakespeare (play by equally brilliant Naomie Harris). N narrates the story from a future viewpoint, and we learn that she has been a long-term patient and possibly the least sociable of the group. She is alarmed and left apprehensive when she is asked to help new patient Poppy become acquainted with the centre, it's staff and fellow patients and to make her feel at home, when she is clearly the least qualified for the job. It is suggested to her that it will help with her own development and after a rocky start, she and Poppy become friends. Poppy doesn't feel she belongs in the institution and protests, strongly asserting herself as sane and that there has been a terrible mistake, while such behaviour is probably common with new patients, it is never confirmed whether Poppy has mental health issues or not. The story is a damning look at the state of the mental health system in the UK and how out of touch many of the centres are and how costs generally come before patient welfare. N explains the absurd but very real system at play as she tells Poppy that before she can prove her sanity she must first gain legal aid which can only be granted once she receives state benefits (known as Mad money by the patients) which she can only have once she's admitted insanity. Poppy soon breaks, as many patients do, while N begins to get better in trying to assist her. It is funny, sad and deeply poignant. I love Ross's style of direction and the chemistry between Anna Maxwell Martin and Naomie Harris is perfect. It's a wonderfully person tale from someone who has not only suffered a mental illness but also suffered under a ridiculous system whereby centres were target lead and therefore falsified in order for people to keep their jobs, leaving the patients to suffer and too often be misdiagnosed. A brilliant film in many different respects and one worth seeking out.