Starring: Idris Elba, Nadine Marshall, Kai Francis Lewis
Second Coming
Director: Debbie Tucker-Green
Rating: 3.5/5
Debbie Tucker Green is one of the female filmmakers to watch out for as she is set to make her feature film directorial debut this week with Second Coming.
Tucker Green is already an award-winning playwright and has worked on television and short projects... but now she has made that leap into features for the first time.
Jackie (Marshall) is expecting her second child but the maths doesn't quite add up. It's been months since she last slept with her husband Mark (Elba), so she knows it can't be his. But she also knows she hasn't been with anyone else. Prior to Jackie's discovery, she, Mark, and son JJ (Francis-Lewis) are a close-knit middle-class family living in London. And then comes Jackie's seemingly immaculate conception.
Afraid of Mark's reaction, she says nothing. But she knows it's only a matter of time until she can't conceal the truth any more. As the child inside her starts to grow, so does everyone's concern for her state of mind, until it's not only the father of the child that is in question, but Jackie's sanity as well.
This summer we are going to be treated to a whole host of British movie, but Second Coming is one that you have to check out, as it really is a fine directorial debut.
Second Coming is an intimate and persona movie that is packed with heart and soul. This is a family that we can all recognise and relate and that is what makes this movie really resonate with audiences - these are ordinary and everyday characters struggling to juggle family and work life.
Tucker Green has written this script in a way that is not afraid to leave the audience to piece the story and the events together for themselves; she doesn't necessary lead the audience by the nose from start to finish, which is something that I find quite refreshing.
Idris Elba and Nadine Marshall give two terrific central performances as Mark and Jax - a regular couple who find is difficult to talk about the problems that they are facing and how they are feeling. We are also introduced to the acting talents of Kai Frances Lewis - he plays' Mark & Jax's son JJ - as he makes his feature film debut.
It is a touching performance from the young actor and, despite being surrounded that talent that is far more experienced, he is the star that shines the brightest.
I love the intimacy of the story and yet, Tucker Green does deal with some interesting and dark themes throughout this movie. Second Coming is very much like a snapshot of family life, and Tucker Green has delivered a movie that we can all relate to and sympathise with.
Debbie Tucker-Green is a writer and a filmmaker to watch out for over the next couple of years and is set to be a very exciting new name in British film; I really cannot wait to see what she does next.