Many people will argue that there is no such thing as "perfect television" - but if they believe that, then they have not seen "Shooting The Past". Watching this drama again, over a decade since it was first shown, it is clear that it has lost none of its power and remains a supreme example of television drama at its very best.
Imagine trying to interest a production company in a drama about the impending closure of a photographic library and you would imagine that it would be the classic "hard sell". However, if that drama was written and directed by Steven Poliakoff, performed by a small, tight-knit cast of truly talented actors and interwoven by Adrian Johnston's haunting, compelling soundtrack and you have a very different beast. The storyline sounds dull and dusty but the people involved in creating this masterpiece are all at the top of their game and the end result is remarkable.
The pace is generally slow and thoughtful, with the underlying passion of the characters for "their" photographs shot through by a surprising degree of sexual chemistry and the expected eccentricity of the archivists. But don't be fooled by the genteel, academic atmosphere - this drama builds to a crescendo that draws you in, makes your heart pound and leaves you breathless.
Imagine trying to interest a production company in a drama about the impending closure of a photographic library and you would imagine that it would be the classic "hard sell". However, if that drama was written and directed by Steven Poliakoff, performed by a small, tight-knit cast of truly talented actors and interwoven by Adrian Johnston's haunting, compelling soundtrack and you have a very different beast. The storyline sounds dull and dusty but the people involved in creating this masterpiece are all at the top of their game and the end result is remarkable.
The pace is generally slow and thoughtful, with the underlying passion of the characters for "their" photographs shot through by a surprising degree of sexual chemistry and the expected eccentricity of the archivists. But don't be fooled by the genteel, academic atmosphere - this drama builds to a crescendo that draws you in, makes your heart pound and leaves you breathless.