I Watch Films: Yellowbacks

 

Yellowbacks

In the near future (made in 1990) a doctor and a scientist are brought to an abandoned hotel by plains clothes police. They’re being questioned about breaches of the Dangerous diseases Act. The scientist’s questioning is quite chummy, almost a debate. The doctor (Janet Mctear) has a much more sinister time with Tim Roth and Imelda Staunton. Discovering booze behind the bar they get her drunk.

They’re looking for Martin Pitt, who has released bootleg broadcasts, strange apocalyptic videos. Because of AIDS a doctor who treats a drug addict, sex worker or homosexual has to report them; then they’re encouraged to go to health camps (encouraged by being made ineligible for housing benefits etc).

Are these actually concentration camps as rumour and Pitt says? They say not. Still, it’s not good whatever they are. A tough and brutal play, very minimalist, the whole thing set in the abandoned hotel with no view of the outside.

Watch This: Dark drama of a future that thankfully never came to pass
Don’t Watch This: Grim, violent, unpleasant