Unforgivable

Unforgivable deals with the aftermath of a family dealing with uncle on nephew child abuse. Joe, the uncle, is released from prison on licence. Though time frames are rarely discussed this is soon after, but not related to, the death of his mother.

His sister, played by Anna Friel, whose son he abused is finding it difficult to cope with family life and come to terms with the horror of what happened.

There are other goings on that fill the 90 minute run time.

It is a well made drama, exploring the issues and trauma through a series of therapy sessions and real time drama.

This is a Jimmy McGovern drama so expect to feel uncomfortable.

Just because the central issue is horrific doesn't necessarily mean the drama itself will be outstanding.

There are many good performances balanced out by a few cardboard actors. Bobby Schofield who plays the uncle, was the wrong lead. He's not defined nor sharp enough. Anna Friel, the mother is outstanding as is David Threlfall, the grandad. The child actor who plays the nephew could have upped his game.

The 90 minute run time is heavy with cliches. The dysfunctional family has now become all too common in these dramas to the extent we have become desensitised to their plight.

Unforgivable does take an unexpected turn for which more time should have been allowed to scrutinise the developments. Instead, it's all crammed into the last 10 minutes and as the credits roll an overwhelming feeling of anticlimax prevails. Could have been so much more only if it was stretched out somewhat.

I was blown away by the silence and the acting in the silence, my heart was broken for them all. Bobby Schofield is absolutely incredible. Can't wait to watch him in the future.

All the characters had important roles, they showed the heartache that abuse causes in families. Anna frail was amazing as always.

I was expecting so much more from this. It skirted around the story with little to no character development except for the lead actor, and seemed as if the script was written by a committee with no cohesion. It all seemed a bit rushed and incomplete in the end. It just goes to show that even with a couple of outstanding performances a poorly written script is always visible.

Unforgivable 2025, BBC. 1 hour 43 minutes.

The aftermath and consequences of child abuse of a young boy, and his abuser.

Its a bleak watch, but the acting and story are so believable. Bobby Schofield, plays the abuser Joe along with his sister Anna Friel playing his sister Anna,, the mother of his victim Tom who struggle with the long term damage.

It is a difficult watch, because of the subject matter and due to the sympathy and understanding of Joe's circumstances and his brutal coming to terms with what he has done and lost.

Plaudits to writer Jimmy McGovern, and actors Friel, Schofield, Anna Maxwell Martin, David Threlfall and the young actor Austin Haynes who plays Tom.

It' been likened to Adolescence for its realistic portrayal of modern life, it's good but not that good, being a one off, it's a shame you couldn't get to know the characters more

Essentially telly, well done BBC, long may you live.

8/10.

They don't make dramatists like Jimmy McGovern anymore. His latest film, 'Unforgiveable', bravely asks us to sympathise with a child abuser, in a story set in rows of terraced houses without front gardens and steeped in Catholic guilt. On one hand, it goes to obvious places, telling how terrible deeds live on in predictable ways; but McGovern deserves credit for showing that even those who do the worst things are human. However, while the message that abused people become abusers is undoubtedly true, it's also a little pat: in moving the deepest responsibility from the protagonist to his own abuser, it could be suggested that the script is merely passing the buck. Nonetheless, in what often seems like a merciless age, this is still a worthwhile, and welcome, drama to see on our television screens.