The Herald - The Herald Magazine
THIS WEEK’S BEST FILMS
SATURDAY
The Railway Children (1970) (BBC2, 2.45pm)
Jenny Agutter, Sally Thomsett and Gary Warren star as the three children forced to leave their comfortable, middle-class home in London when their father is mysteriously taken into custody. Although initially horrified by their impoverished state and bleak new home in Yorkshire, the move opens up an exciting new world for them, centring on the local railway line. Bernard Cribbins also stars and actor Lionel Jeffries steps behind the camera as director; he also wrote the screenplay.
Dirty God (2019) (BBC2, 10pm)
Single mother Jade (Vicky Knight) is the victim of a horrific acid attack perpetrated by her ex-boyfriend.
Her face, arms and torso are scarred and the hospital advises her to wear a clear face mask to protect tissue from further damage. When she is finally discharged, Jade recuperates at home with her mother Lisa (Katherine Kelly) but her young daughter Rae (Eliza Brady-Girard) is disturbed by the mask. Upset by her little girl’s reaction, Jade seeks comfort from fun-loving best friend Shami and Shami’s boyfriend Naz.
SUNDAY
Apollo 13 (1995) (STV, 2.55pm)
Twenty-five years after it first had viewers on the edge of their seats, Ron Howard’s compelling drama based on the 1970 Moon shot is still a stunning piece of work. Tom Hanks plays astronaut Jim Lovell, who is faced with a nightmare when the mission suffers an on-board explosion. He and his crewmates, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise, are left stranded in space with a dwindling oxygen supply while flight controllers and engineers
somehow forgets the name of the show she’s presenting.
Marina Abramovic Takes Over TV (Sky Arts, 9pm)
The Serbian performance artist becomes the first individual to take over the channel. Over five hours, Marina will be telling the 100-year story of performance art, now the fastest growing, most controversial art form in the world. Deep diving into its origins and evolution to modern day, she will be showcasing the most diverse, exciting, emerging artists in the world. The programme will contain elements of her own personal inspirations, from Dada and Salvador Dali to David Bowie, Cabaret Volaire to Maria Calls,
who demonstrates a penchant for wanton violence in his writing then uncovers evidence that he watches right-wing videos and is inspired by their destructive messages.
MONDAY
Ghostbusters, Film 4, 6,15pm Director Paul Feig’s reboot of the much-loved 1984 comedy-horror – you know the one: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis trying not to cross the streams – caused a backlash on release because of its deliberate genderreversal
some festive-themed physical challenges.
Jamie: Keep Cooking at Christmas (C4, 8pm)
Jamie Oliver has loads of handy tips for a bespoke Christmas as we navigate such unprecedented times. He begins his two-part special by looking at ways to make cracking gifts for those who we can’t meet in person. Plus, we might not be able to sit around a table all together as normal this year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t share gorgeous festive food, starting with a sumptuous roasted mulled wine ham. Accompanied by cheeses you can flavour and deliver ready to be baked, it’s the perfect gift for those we might be missing this
Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac) owns a fleet of oil transport trucks that carry valuable fuel to customers across New York City in 1981. Shortly after clinching a deal for property on the Brooklyn waterfront, Abel learns that one of his trucks has been hijacked and the driver has been badly beaten. Threats to Abel’s livelihood become personal, targeting his children and wife Anna, whose gangster father used to own the company.
The Green Mile (1999) (C5, 10.30pm)
The delicate equilibrium of a 1930s
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