RADIATOR is the debut film by Tom Browne about an elderly couple living in a nearly dilapidated house. Leonard (Richard Johnson) refuses to get up from the couch as it is too sore on his bones while his wife Maria (Gemma Jones) struggles to cope.
The film is heartbreakingly honest in its portrayal of this couple. Their son arrives to help get his father cleaned up and to make sure he is seen by a doctor. This results in him staying with his parents for a few weeks to help around the house. Over this course of time, we see how difficult the relationship between the three of them is.
For anyone who has been in a situation similar to the one in RADIATOR, it will seem very genuine and effective. All three of these characters seem so realistic and prove that this is some of the best character writing in any film for a long time.
Of course, it is not just the writing that helps make RADIATOR so relatable; the performances by Gemma Jones and Richard Johnson are excellent. Leonard is a grumpy, arguably lazy, and demanding man who fails to see how hard his wife works for him. There are a few moments where you laugh with incredulity at his demands, but his attitude is shocking. Maria’s character is somewhat overshadowed, but certainly not under-performed; Gemma Jones does a great job as portraying the shy and nervous mother who is afraid to leave her husband after so many years, despite her son trying to convince her otherwise.
This is a very effective film, partly because it has no real structure; you cannot easily tell when it will end. This can be tiresome at some points, but ultimately it works as it represents their relationship well. RADIATORÂ is a well written film with strong performances throughout. Its upsetting story is relatable to a lot of people and you can tell this film has been made with real passion behind it.
