Drama

Allelujah

When news of the closure of a small hospital's geriatric ward begins to reach the community, the hospital invites a local news crew to document their planning of a concert in honor of the hospital's most celebrated nurse. But there might be something more threatening to the hospital itself, more deadly than the politicians ready to shut down the place at a moment's notice.

Release Date : 2023-03-17

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : BBC FilmPathéIngenious MediaRedstart ProductionsDJ FilmsGreat Bison Productions

Production Country : FranceUnited Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Sister Gilpin

Original Name : Jennifer Saunders

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dr Valentine

Original Name : Bally Gill

Gender : Male

Character Name : Joe Colman

Original Name : David Bradley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Colin Colman

Original Name : Russell Tovey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ambrose

Original Name : Derek Jacobi

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mary

Original Name : Judi Dench

Gender : Female

Character Name : Kieran

Original Name : JP Conway

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nurse Pinkney

Original Name : Jesse Akele

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs Earnshaw

Original Name : Lorraine Ashbourne

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mother

Original Name : Nivedita Bhargava

Gender : Male

Character Name : Minister

Original Name : Nicholas Burns

Gender : Male

Character Name : Richard

Original Name : Paul Butterworth

Gender : Male

Character Name : Molly

Original Name : Eileen Davies

Gender : Female

Character Name : Ruma

Original Name : Nishu Dikshit

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mavis

Original Name : Patricia England

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mr Salter

Original Name : Vincent Franklin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr Earnshaw

Original Name : Gerard Horan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pianist

Original Name : Catherine Jayes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nani

Original Name : Rajinder Kaur

Gender : Male

Character Name : Shirina

Original Name : Harsheen Kaur

Gender : Male

Character Name : Neville

Original Name : Jeffery Kissoon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs Maudsley

Original Name : Julia McKenzie

Gender : Female

Character Name : Abdul

Original Name : Arian Nik

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cynthia

Original Name : Amanda Root

Gender : Female

Character Name : Andy

Original Name : Louis Ashbourne Serkis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Juneeta

Original Name : Rhea Sharma

Gender : Female

Character Name : Lucille

Original Name : Marlene Sidaway

Gender : Female

Character Name : Gerald

Original Name : Ross Tomlinson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hazel

Original Name : Marjorie Yates

Gender : Female

Character Name : Passer by

Original Name : Dawn Batty

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr Jess (uncredited)

Original Name : Jessica Baglow

Gender : Female

Character Name : Opera Goer (uncredited)

Original Name : Ray Burnet

Gender : Male

Character Name : George (uncredited)

Original Name : Darren Charman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Audience Member at the Opera

Original Name : Liam Edwards

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mayor (uncredited)

Original Name : Minouche Kaftel

Gender : Male

Character Name : Patient (uncredited)

Original Name : Dennis O'Donnell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Opera Guest / Junior Board Member (uncredited)

Original Name : Linus Scheithauer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Politician (uncredited)

Original Name : Alfredo Tavares

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mayor's Husband (uncredited)

Original Name : Jon Wennington

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2023-03-26

When a small geriatric hospital in Northern England is threatened with closure, the staff and patients rally together to try and save it. There might be a glimmer of hope with this task as the government consultant tasked with the final evaluation - "Colin" (Russell Tovey) has his estranged father " Joe" (David Bradley) in that self same facility. The place is run under the benignly imperious hand of "Sister Gilpin" (Jennifer Saunders) with Bally Gill's "Dr. Valentine" tending to their clinical needs. As you'd expect with Alan Bennett, this comes at you from the left of the political spectrum, and highlights what he sees as the short-termism of fiscally based decision making. To that end, Sir Richard Eyre has assembled a strong cast of formidable character actors to portray the patients. Most notable amongst them, for me, was Julia McKenzie and Bradley is also on great form as the curmudgeonly old gent coming to terms with his predicament and his successful, gay, son. There is plenty of dry humour, observational sarcasm to the fore and Saunders and Gill have quite a nice chemistry between them as they both strive to care for their elderly charges. I can't say that I loved the ending. It is thought provoking, but somehow seemed just a little over-dramatic and unnecessary. That said, though, the ensemble cast reminded me very much "Quartet" (2012) with strong leading characters and familiar faces at every turn helping to highlight the serious (and lighter) issues of the ageing process for both the older folks and for those charged with keeping them well. Not sure it really needs a cinema to enjoy, but it's still well worth ninety minutes.