Tyrannosaur,
Paddy Considine’s debut movie, was something I’ve longed to see, but it was a
movie I’ve wanted to stop watching after the first scene as well. However,
movies with a shocking first scene turned out to be better than movies with a
shocking end scene, so I decided to keep on watching. Nevertheless, be aware
that every part following this opening scene may be considered as hard as the
first one.
Tyrannosaur
deals with uncontrollable anger and violence. Rage, in other words, that seems
to be a habit and addiction for our protagonist. And above all, it’s something
that needs to be kept under control before it reaches the highest level. Peter
Mullan plays Joseph, an old ageing widower, living in the slum of Leeds. After
his wife died, he has very little to live and fight for. Excluded by society,
the protagonist (and many others in similar situation) takes out his anger on
someone weaker than himself, more specific, his dog. Surrounded by violence and
not aware of a better world, Joseph ends up hiding in Hannah’s charity store
after a fight in a local bar. She’s a committed Christian who, after being
rejected to talk to, starts to pray for the hiding stranger. Joseph’s first reaction
to the woman’s prayers wasn’t exactly what she expected and overloaded with
reproaches, Hannah stays behind. A few days later, Joseph returns to her store
with a sense of guilt, as far as he’s able to sense that feeling. What follows
is a development of a friendship between the two, drawn together by distress.
Tyrannosaur
if far from a romantic drama in which two people help each other to fix their
tortured life. Yes, it may be considered as a social drama, but it deals with
much more than that alone. Melancholic and lugubrious mood, yet very impressive
when it comes to acting. It drags you down with a feeling of despair, but at
the same time reveals the lives of many among us. Showing, not telling is the
success of many drama’s and this impressive debut by actor Paddy Considine makes
us feel like we’re in the middle of it all.
